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Plans to restore Barber-Scotia College
President of the college speaks about future plans to bring the campus back to its former glory
CONCORD, NC (WBTV) - The new Barber Scotia President Chris Rey says he is up for the challenge. Barber-Scotia has struggled to keep students and accreditation. It lost its accreditation back in 2004. Only a handful of students still attend, and the school has immediate debt to tackle. Rey started the job on July 17th. WBTV visited him on his second week on the job. The new leader described his first few days.
“Oh my God,” Barber-Scotia College President Chris Rey said. “It’s like literally like drinking from a firehose. It’s a lot of systems that I have to learn. A lot of connection points we have to make in the city. There’s a lot going on on the campus right now as it relates to addressing code enforcement with the city and tax exemption with the county.”
Rey says he took the job because of the words he heard from a fraternity brother and beloved politician.
“My mentor was John Lewis,” Rey said. “Right before the Congressman passed away - our last conversation was it’s your turn. It was literally like the proverbial passing the baton. And his statement to me was - Don’t allow your talents that have been given to you to not be used to move humanity forward. And so, when this opportunity arrived it was a no-brainer for me. I could not allow another Historically Black College to close on my watch.”
The new leader says he wants to mend strained relationships. The College owes about $500,000. Rey wants to tackle that debt immediately. He wants to work with politicians.
“As the new President of the College,” Rey said. “My message is very clear - I want to work with you. Yesterday I took a letter to the Mayor requesting a sit down meeting with him and I - to build that rapport. Build that relationship so that he can understand what our plans are for the Institution and how both of our administrations don’t want to go down in history as the footnote that the college was shuttered on our watch. How can we work together to make sure that Barber Scotia becomes a viable part of this community again.”
The new President has a plan to improve the Historically Black College. It is called Barber Scotia RISING - that stands for Rebuilding -Instruction -Strategy - Infrastructure - Network -Governance.
“We know that moving forward to reach accreditation,” he said. “Our governance as an institution has to be A+ that means our governance around our finances, our governance around our policies, our governance in how we conduct the business of this institution...It takes about 18 – 24 months to go through the process properly and we are confident that we will be able to get through that process.”
When it comes to raising money for the school the new president will launch a fundraising project.
“We’re 156 years old,” Rey said. “We’re asking that we build a donor base of least 6,500 – 7000 individuals to donate 156 dollars to Barber Scotia - that’s it. We know that those resources will allow us to pay off the city in a short amount of time and then allow for us to stabilize our finances while we are aggressively looking at government grants and other corporate partners that we are having discussions with right now.”
The President’s plan also includes offering students a debt-free college education.
“To attend Barber Scotia, it’s $1500 - $3,000 a year,” The President said. “So in four years, you can have a degree for $12,000 in-person or online. So our goal is to identify donors that will contribute to that student’s future...Folks are beginning to line up that are beginning to say I’ll sponsor a student for four years. I’ll sponsor a student for one year - so my hope is that by the middle of the Fall semester that we would have reached at least 200 to 300 fully funded scholarships for students to attend Barber-Scotia.”
Rey is the International President of the Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. He says having that network of 225,000 Brothers will help him get the job done.
“It’s no secret,” Rey said. “I already told the brothers that they are going to play a big role in helping to save this institution and they are ready for that challenge...The first full scholarship is going to come from Phi Beta Sigma.”
Rey also says people are reaching out to him to teach at the College pro-bono. He says there is a new energy at the school. He is ready to offer a new vision for the school.
“My hope is and when I think about reimagining Barber Scotia is that the degrees that we are looking at now and reshaping for the future are those that are going have folk that are job ready as soon as they get that piece of paper. In the coming months, we are going to be rolling out a new cohort of certificate programs for the institution that is going to allow us to partner with some of our corporate leaders out here in the Electronic and Aerospace manufacturing areas that we know that need individuals right now...I’ve already had someone approach me about a nursing program for the institution.”
In the coming weeks - the new leader says he will be announcing a new Chief Financial Officer, VP of Enrollment, and VP of Institutional and Development.
“There’s no question Barber Scotia can be an amazing asset to this region,” Rey said. “I’m going to work every day that I get up to make sure that we are leaning into that future. This region will grow - Barber Scotia will be a part of that growth and we’re going to help to produce the students’ skill set to stay in this region and make it a viable force in North Carolina. I strongly believe that, and I am ready for that challenge.”
Rey says his Presidential Inauguration will be sometime in January.
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/29/plans-restore-barber-scotia-college/ | 2023-07-29T02:50:36 | 0 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/29/plans-restore-barber-scotia-college/ |
“We’re a village”: Seven Homes Foster Care hosts first Back To School Bash
“School supplies, to some it’s simple to some it’s the world.”
GASTONIA, N.C. (WBTV) - Nearly 80 children in the North Carolina foster care system got a backpack full of supplies Friday evening.
More importantly, they got the confidence to start the school year off strong.
Seven Homes Foster Care partnered with Jockey Being Family and the Foster Family Alliance of North Carolina to host their first-ever Back to School Bash.
“It means everything to see the smiles on these kids faces,” Seven Homes Community Relations Director Katelyn Hall said. “School supplies, to some it’s simple to some it’s the world.”
Each kid got to fill their backpack with pencils, notebooks, and whatever else they’ll need on the first day of class. For some kids, it represented a level of stability that they might not otherwise have found.
“Having these school supplies is just one step closer to saying ‘this is your permanent home, this is you’re doing to be best for you,’” foster parent and Seven Homes volunteer Sarah Reidy-Jones said. “So this is a blessing.”
Beyond the school supplies, those involved say this event was more importantly to show these kids that they are loved and cared for as they prepare to go back to school.
“It’s a journey, and we’re a village. We’re going to be there with them,” Hall said.
Copyright 2023 WBTV. All rights reserved. | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/29/were-village-seven-homes-foster-care-hosts-first-back-school-bash/ | 2023-07-29T02:50:42 | 1 | https://www.wbtv.com/2023/07/29/were-village-seven-homes-foster-care-hosts-first-back-school-bash/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — (AP) — Racing will resume at Churchill Downs in September, with no changes being made after a review of surfaces and safety protocols in the wake of 12 horse deaths, including seven in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby in May.
The Louisville track suspended racing operations on June 7 and moved the rest of its spring meet to Ellis Park in western Kentucky at the recommendation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the sport's national overseer.
Training continued at Churchill Downs during the track’s investigation.
Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen called the deaths "a series of unfortunate circumstances” and said the review “didn’t find anything fundamentally wrong or different about our track from previous years.”
“That, in a sense, can sometimes be unsatisfying,” he said. “But that’s business, and that’s sports.”
Two of the horse deaths occurred in undercard races on Derby day. Another five died later.
“The takeaway is, the track is very safe,” Carstanjen said Thursday on an earnings call with CDI investors.
"What we needed to do was spend some of this time in the interim, while we ran the rest of the (spring) meet at Ellis to just go soup to nuts through every single thing we do at the racetrack. There was nothing that jumped out as an apparent cause of the injuries, of the breakdowns; and, as we went through and rebuilt our processes from the ground up to check everything that we do to make extra sure, we didn’t find anything material.”
The track's fall meet begins Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 1.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/news/churchill-downs/SOLGZ2VKDYVQ4OG5IO7HB3BA5E/ | 2023-07-29T02:52:45 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/churchill-downs/SOLGZ2VKDYVQ4OG5IO7HB3BA5E/ |
PITTSBURGH — A new program to cut sidewalk repair costs for Pittsburgh residents is being debated by the city council.
According to TribLIVE.com, Pittsburgh residents and business owners are responsible for repairs to their city sidewalks at their properties.
The new program would have the repairs completed by the Department of Public Works.
The repairs would be done at a lower cost than private companies.
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Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has repeatedly said he is "fine" since he froze up mid-sentence during a press conference on Wednesday. And now his office is trying to tamp down speculation that he might not fill out his term as leader because of his health.
In a statement, his office said McConnell appreciates the continued support of his colleagues and "plans to serve his full term in the job they overwhelmingly elected him to do."
The statement, first reported by Politico, comes after McConnell, 81, has suffered health problems in recent months.
At his weekly press conference this week, he froze and stared vacantly for about 20 seconds before his GOP colleagues standing behind him grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office. He later returned to the news conference and answered questions as if nothing had happened.
When asked about the episode, he said he was "fine" - a statement he repeated in a hallway to reporters later that day.
Neither McConnell nor his office would answer questions about whether he got medical help afterward.
SEE MORE: Feinstein corrected, told to 'just say aye' at Senate hearing
Even as McConnell tried to brush off the concerns, the episode raised new questions among his colleagues about his health and also whether McConnell, who was first elected to the Senate in 1984 and has served as Republican leader since 2007, might soon step aside from his leadership post.
He was elected to a two-year term as leader in January by a large majority of his conference, despite an insurgent challenge from Florida Sen. Rick Scott.
He would be up for re-election as leader again after the 2024 elections. By then, he will have to decide also if he wants to run again for another Senate term. He is up for re-election in 2026.
In March, McConnell suffered a concussion and a broken rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel. He didn’t return to the Senate for almost six weeks.
He has been using a wheelchair in the airport while commuting back and forth to Kentucky. And his speech has recently sounded more halting. But McConnell, famously reticent and often private about his personal life and health, has said very little about what is going on.
Republican Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota said after, Wednesday’s episode, that McConnell’s job as leader calls for more transparency than it would for others.
"We should find out, you know, fairly soon what happened and how serious it is," Cramer said. "But I don’t have to tell you, Mitch is also, as an individual, a pretty private guy. So we’ll see."
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said he talked to McConnell on Wednesday night and he seemed "strong and alert." But, he said, what happened at the news conference on Wednesday was disturbing to watch.
"Mitch is strong, he’s stubborn as a mule," Cruz said. "My prayers are with them. I hope that - we’re going into the August recess - I hope he has time to fully recuperate."
GOP senators who are seen as potential successors have been cautious in their reaction.
"He’s fine, he’s back to work," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Senate Republican and one of the senators standing behind McConnell when he froze up."
"I support Senator McConnell as long as he wants to serve as leader," said Texas Sen. John Cornyn, another potential replacement.
Wyoming Sen. John Barrasso, the No. 3 Senate Republican and a former orthopedic surgeon, guided McConnell back to his office to rest during the news conference. Afterwards, he told reporters that he has been concerned since McConnell was injured earlier this year, "and I continue to be concerned."
Barrasso then added: "I said I was concerned when he fell and hit his head a number of months ago and was hospitalized. And I think he’s made a remarkable recovery, he’s doing a great job leading our conference and was able to answer every question the press asked him today."
Several other GOP senators projected confidence in the Republican leader.
"I do have confidence in his leadership," said Wyoming Sen. Cynthia Lummis. "At lunch yesterday, he spoke. He was completely on his game using numbers that were pulled out of his head and he was completely with it. So I don’t know what precipitated the freeze, but he’ll be careful to evaluate his own capabilities."
Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall said he was "a little concerned" after the news conference.
"He said that he got a little overheated, a little dehydrated," said Marshall, who is also a doctor.
"That’s what it looks like to me. I can tell you, he’s got a strong, strong voice in our conference. He’s providing steady leadership. And I think he’s doing a great job as leader."
McConnell had polio in his early childhood and he has long acknowledged some difficulty as an adult in climbing stairs. In addition to his fall in March, he also tripped and fell four years ago at his home in Kentucky, causing a shoulder fracture that required surgery.
The Republican leader carried on with his full schedule after the episode on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he spoke with his Republican counterpart at an event Wednesday evening for Major League Baseball owners.
"I said I’m so glad you’re here," Schumer said. "And he made a very good speech."
The Republican leader is one of several senators who have been absent due to health issues this year. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, 90, was out of the Senate for more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles. And, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., 53, took leave for several weeks to get treatment for clinical depression.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kxlf.com/mcconnell-to-serve-his-full-term-as-gop-leader-amid-health-worries | 2023-07-29T02:52:54 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/mcconnell-to-serve-his-full-term-as-gop-leader-amid-health-worries |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — (AP) — Racing will resume at Churchill Downs in September, with no changes being made after a review of surfaces and safety protocols in the wake of 12 horse deaths, including seven in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby in May.
The Louisville track suspended racing operations on June 7 and moved the rest of its spring meet to Ellis Park in western Kentucky at the recommendation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the sport's national overseer.
Training continued at Churchill Downs during the track’s investigation.
Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen called the deaths "a series of unfortunate circumstances” and said the review “didn’t find anything fundamentally wrong or different about our track from previous years.”
“That, in a sense, can sometimes be unsatisfying,” he said. “But that’s business, and that’s sports.”
Two of the horse deaths occurred in undercard races on Derby day. Another five died later.
“The takeaway is, the track is very safe,” Carstanjen said Thursday on an earnings call with CDI investors.
"What we needed to do was spend some of this time in the interim, while we ran the rest of the (spring) meet at Ellis to just go soup to nuts through every single thing we do at the racetrack. There was nothing that jumped out as an apparent cause of the injuries, of the breakdowns; and, as we went through and rebuilt our processes from the ground up to check everything that we do to make extra sure, we didn’t find anything material.”
The track's fall meet begins Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 1.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/news/churchill-downs/SOLGZ2VKDYVQ4OG5IO7HB3BA5E/ | 2023-07-29T02:52:54 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/churchill-downs/SOLGZ2VKDYVQ4OG5IO7HB3BA5E/ |
PITTSBURGH — Mitch Keller had a nice bounce-back outing for the Pittsburgh Pirates, but Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies pulled out a 2-1 win on Friday night at PNC Park.
In his two starts after appearing in his first-career All-Star Game, Keller (9-7) had given up a combined 14 earned runs in 11 innings pitched. The right-hander was much more effective on Friday.
Keller surrendered a two-run homer to Kyle Schwarber in the top of the third, but those were the only two runs the Phillies scored against Keller. The Pirates’ starter struck out eight batters in his 5.2 innings of work.
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©2023 Cox Media Group | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/mitch-keller-bounces-back-pirates-fall-phillies-2-1/VO2JHWR5AREB7HETRXRG7JKDWY/ | 2023-07-29T02:52:58 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/mitch-keller-bounces-back-pirates-fall-phillies-2-1/VO2JHWR5AREB7HETRXRG7JKDWY/ |
Analysis by real estate firm Redfin finds that in 2021 and 2022, more people moved into regions that are at risk of flooding, wildfire or extreme heat events.
Nearly 400,000 more people moved into the counties in the U.S. that are most prone to flooding. Nearly 450,000 more moved to places where fire is a big risk, and nearly 630,000 more people will have to deal with the risks of extreme heat, according to Redfin's numbers.
In all three of those risk categories, the rate of people moving to the areas increased over the rates from 2019-2020.
Refdin crunched numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau and from the climate risk assessment scores by First Street Foundation.
It found more people are moving into flood-prone counties than out. The most popular was Florida's Lee County — where roughly half of homes are at high flood risk.
Riverside County, California, where homes are at high risk from wildfires, saw a net population increase. So did Maricopa County, Arizona, where extreme heat is a regular risk, and is currently baking the region in an unprecedented heatwave. Redfin says Maricopa County gained the most residents of any in the U.S. in 2022.
Separate data from moving van company U-Haul showed the same: more people moved to the Southeast and Southwest in 2022 than anywhere else. Texas and Florida were the top two destinations, respectively.
SEE MORE: Why are insurance companies pulling out of some states?
As for why — real estate is relatively affordable in many of these destinations, Redfin says. Construction in Florida's Lee County is still buzzing to meet demand.
Research into the phenomenon published last year also found natural amenities and socioeconomic factors can play a big role: people often moved toward bodies of water, for example, or away from regions that had high unemployment. That study, too, warned that people were increasing their risk of encountering hazards like wildfire.
Meanwhile, certain short- and long-term costs of living are changing along with the climate.
Residents in Phoenix, Arizona, are facing steep utility bills due to air conditioning demand.
And some major home insurance companies are starting to back out of the Florida market, saying that recent disasters like last year's Hurricane Ian are pushing their operating costs too high.
Average home insurance in Florida now runs $6,000 a year — roughly three times he national average.
SEE MORE: What are some health complications from extreme heat?
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kxlf.com/more-and-more-americans-are-moving-into-high-risk-climate-zones-why | 2023-07-29T02:53:00 | 1 | https://www.kxlf.com/more-and-more-americans-are-moving-into-high-risk-climate-zones-why |
MIAMI — (AP) — A federal judge in Miami on Friday criticized prosecutors for an apparent attempt to undercut a court order and take control of a oceanside condo belonging to a former Republican congressman ahead of a high-profile trial connected to a $50 million consulting contract with Venezuela's socialist government.
When David Rivera and an associate were charged last November with money laundering and acting as unregistered foreign agents for President Nicolás Maduro's government, prosecutors obtained a judge's order freezing several banking and brokerage accounts as well as Florida properties that they said were the product of some $24 million in ill-gotten gains.
Prosecutors also blocked eight more properties belonging to Rivera and his associate in Florida and Georgia that, while unrelated to criminal activity, would likely be seized if the two are found guilty.
This month, in a harshly worded ruling, Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres said that the government had no right to take the “innocent” Florida assets without a conviction. Rather than lift the restraining order, the government then asked the court to reconsider and said that it had since determined that three of the properties — including a condo that Rivera and his wife purchased in 2019 for $301,000 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida — could also be traced to the defendants' alleged lobbying on behalf of Maduro's government.
Judge Darrin Gayles on Friday expressed frustration with the government’s change in strategy.
“This reeks of gamesmanship,” said Gayles, who reversed his own sealed order of a week ago granting prosecutors' request that the real estate properties once again be frozen. “It seems like the government simply filed this because it lost.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham said prosecutors first learned from investigators that the property could be directly “tainted” by Rivera's consulting work with Venezuela in May or June but didn’t alert the court until July 14 — a week after Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres issued his 23-page order freeing up the properties.
Gayles, who is overseeing the criminal case, was unimpressed. “It seems like you’re wasting the court’s time," he said.
Rivera has been marred by scandals stretching back to his days in Congress from 2011 to 2013. He was arrested late last year on an eight-count criminal indictment alleging that at the start of the Trump administration he was part of a conspiracy to lobby on behalf of Venezuela to lower tensions with the U.S., resolve a legal dispute with a U.S. oil company and end U.S. sanctions against the South American nation — all without registering as a foreign agent.
As part of that effort, he arranged meetings in Washington, New York and Dallas for allies of Maduro with U.S. lawmakers and a top aide to former President Donald Trump, according to the indictment. To hide the sensitive nature of his work, prosecutors allege Rivera referred to Maduro in chat messages as the “bus driver,” a congressman as “Sombrero” and millions of dollars as “melons.”
Court records show Rivera's consulting work was closely coordinated with Raúl Gorrín, a Venezuelan insider and media tycoon who has himself been sanctioned and indicted in the U.S. on money laundering charges. Part of the more than $20 million that Rivera was alleged to have received from Venezuela was used to pay maintenance on one of Gorrin's yachts, according to prosecutors.
Rivera maintains that Gorrín was his attorney in Venezuela and that all of his work was conducted on behalf of PDV USA — a Delaware-based affiliate of Venezuelan-owned Citgo — and didn't require he register as a foreign agent.
The dispute over Rivera's assets has slowed the government's prosecution of the high-profile case. Eight months after being charged, Rivera has yet to be formally arraigned — normally a routine procedural step — because he said he needs access to the disputed assets to pay his attorneys.
Rivera’s attorneys in filings have accused prosecutors of waging a “scorched earth attack” against the south Florida GOP stalwart who once shared an apartment in Tallahassee with now Sen. Marco Rubio when both were state lawmakers.
“They lost, they got caught and they came to this court and it is wrong,” David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Rivera’s co-defendant Esther Nuhfer said.
Rivera was triumphant following Friday’s hearing, accusing the prosecutors of “misconduct.” Judge Gayles was more restrained, making no such finding of wrongdoing even as he questioned prosecutors' actions.
“Today’s decision shows that there are still honorable judges in America who will not tolerate misconduct from dishonest government prosecutors,” Rivera wrote The Associated Press in a text message. “Another victory for truth and justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida didn't immediately comment.
___
Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/news/world/judge-criticizes/IK2PFQNHDIZ2JDAHGMHTUFAL34/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:01 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/news/world/judge-criticizes/IK2PFQNHDIZ2JDAHGMHTUFAL34/ |
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh Pirates Director of Sports Medicine Todd Tomczyk met with members of the media on Friday at PNC Park to provide updates on injuries to a handful of players.
Among the players discussed was Oneil Cruz, who has been out since early April after fracturing his left ankle.
While Cruz hasn’t returned to any sort of game action just yet, as things currently stand, the Pirates are confident Cruz will play baseball in 2023.
“For me, right now as we’re standing here, I think (my confidence is) very high that he will play baseball this year,” Tomczyk said.
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Man’s body with multiple bullet wounds found near Jackson street
JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) - Police say a man’s body, which had sustained multiple gunshot wounds, was found in a “grassy area” of Jackson on Friday.
According to JPD, the body was found around 4:30 p.m. near McCain and Wichita Streets.
“When [police] arrived, they discovered a Black male deceased laying in a grassy area with multiple gunshot wounds to the body,” a press release stated.
Witnesses told police that a black Nissan was seen leaving the area “at a high rate of speed.”
The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
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See a spelling or grammar error in our story? Please click here to report it and include the headline of the story in your email.
Copyright 2023 WLBT. All rights reserved. | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/07/29/mans-body-with-multiple-bullet-wounds-found-near-jackson-street/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:05 | 1 | https://www.wlbt.com/2023/07/29/mans-body-with-multiple-bullet-wounds-found-near-jackson-street/ |
ANACONDA — It was just 10 years ago that Jesse Cody’s depression become so profound that he was ready to take his own life. It was only on America’s hiking trails that he was able to save his life, and he’s hoping his story of hiking will save others from that same darkness.
“You know, as I was getting closer to my 40th birthday, really, there were just a lot of thoughts in my head that this might be my last birthday and I was really fighting that darkness,” said Cody while on a stop in Anaconda.
Like many people in Montana, Jesse, who is from Massachusetts, suffered depression in silence.
“I was in a typical place as a man not really speaking up about it, not seeking help, not telling people in my life that I was suffering and I need help,” he said.
It was about this time that he remembered the book “A Walk in the Woods” by Bill Bryson which introduced him to hiking and the author’s own struggles.
“If that guy felt that way, the amount of questions and the things I’m looking for, a long walk could help me find the things I’m seeking,” said Cody.
With little training, he hiked the Appalachian Trail and has since hiked thousands of miles of trails. He’s currently hiking the Continental Divide Trail and stopped in Anaconda for a break. His first hike through Montana, he’s already had some hair-raising encounters with wildlife.
“A couple grizzly encounters. The first one was probably less than 20 feet from me right on the trail in Glacier National,” said Cody.
Jesse is sharing his hikes and story of survival on his website, Hike the Good Hike. He said he's grateful to the trail for giving him the encouragement to seek help.
“I promised the trail, I don’t know what it is, I don’t know what it looks like, but I promise you what you’ve given me, I’m going to find a way to pay it forward and give it out to the world,” he said. | https://www.kxlf.com/news/local-news/man-hiking-continental-divide-for-mental-health-awareness-stops-in-anaconda | 2023-07-29T02:53:06 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/news/local-news/man-hiking-continental-divide-for-mental-health-awareness-stops-in-anaconda |
UNITED NATIONS — (AP) — The United Nations has been forced to cut food, cash payments and assistance to millions of people in many countries because of “a crippling funding crisis” that has seen its donations plummet by about half as acute hunger is hitting record levels, a top official said Friday.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, told a news conference that at least 38 of the 86 countries where WFP operates have already seen cuts or plan to cut assistance soon — including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and West Africa.
He said WFP's operating requirement is $20 billion to deliver aid to everyone in need, but it was aiming for between $10 billion and $14 billion, which was what the agency had received in the past few years.
“We’re still aiming at that, but we have only so far this year gotten to about half of that, around $5 billion,” Skau said.
He said humanitarian needs were "going through the roof" in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and its global implications. "Those needs continue to grow, those drivers are still there," he said, "but the funding is drying up. So we're looking at 2024 (being) even more dire."
"The largest food and nutrition crisis in history today persists," Skau said. "This year, 345 million people continue to be acutely food insecure while hundreds of millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger."
Skau said conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute hunger around the world, along with climate change, unrelenting disasters, persistent food price inflation and mounting debt stress — all during a slowdown in the global economy.
WFP is looking to diversify its funding base, but he also urged the agency’s traditional donors to “step up and support us through this very difficult time.”
Asked why funding was drying up, Skau said to ask the donors.
“But it’s clear that aid budgets, humanitarian budgets, both in Europe and the United States, (are) not where they were in 2021-2022,” he said.
Skau said that in March, WFP was forced to cut rations from 75% to 50% for communities in Afghanistan facing emergency levels of hunger, and in May it was forced to cut food for 8 million people — 66% of the people it was assisting. Now, it is helping just 5 million people, he said. In Syria, 5.5 million people who relied on WFP for food were already on 50% rations, Skau said, and in July the agency cut all rations to 2.5 million of them. In the Palestinian territories, WFP cut its cash assistance by 20% in May and in June, and cut its caseload by 60%, or 200,000 people, he said. And in Yemen, he said, a huge funding gap will force WFP to cut aid to 7 million people as early as August.
In West Africa, where acute hunger is on the rise, Skau said, most countries are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly WFP's seven largest crisis operations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
He said cutting aid to people who are only at the hunger level of crisis to help save those literally starving or in the category of catastrophic hunger means that those dropped will rapidly fall into the emergency and catastrophe categories, “and so we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road.”
“Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward,” Skau said.
He urged world leaders to prioritize humanitarian funding and invest in long-tern solutions to conflicts, poverty, development and other root causes of the current crisis.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/news/world/un-says-its-forced/B7CCKUEYGBKRI6TGYTQOKW2K3U/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:07 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/news/world/un-says-its-forced/B7CCKUEYGBKRI6TGYTQOKW2K3U/ |
PITTSBURGH — A rally was held in Market Square on Friday to raise awareness about the death of a man in the Allegheny County Jail.
Douglas Bonomo, 59, was found unresponsive in the jail at 7 a.m. Sunday morning and was pronounced dead just 20 minutes later. He was waiting to be transferred to Torrance State Hospital.
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Participants at the rally called for an end to what they say is abuse and corruption at the Allegheny County Jail.
Bonomo’s death marked the first at the jail since Sept. 2022.
“Going to prison shouldn’t be about not coming out. You’re meant to go there and do your time,” Executive Director of the Thomas Merton Center, Rachel Munes said.
An investigation into Bonomo’s death is being conducted by Allegheny County Police, the jail administration and the Allegheny County Medical Examiner.
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‘Our hero is going home’: Police officer released from rehab 3.5 months after Ky. bank shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - After 109 days, Louisville Metro police officer Nickolas Wilt has been released from Frazier Rehabilitation Institute and is going home.
Wilt has been hospitalized, receiving medical care for the last three and a half months after the Old National Bank mass shooting on April 10. Wilt was critically injured when he was shot in the head after responding to the shooting that ultimately killed five people.
The victims were identified as Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Josh Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57.
Wilt was listed in critical condition for nearly a month. Officials with the University of Louisville Health said Wilt received multiple surgeries and underwent several procedures at University of Louisville Hospital and Jewish Hospital.
On May 10, one month after the shooting, Wilt was transferred to Frazier Rehabilitation Institute to begin neuro and physical rehabilitation after seeing an improvement in his condition. Over the course of the last three and a half months, doctors and family of Wilt have called his journey remarkable.
On Friday, Governor Andy Beshear shared a photo with Wilt ahead of his release.
“Kentucky, our prayers were heard. @LMPD Officer Nick Wilt is headed home with his family. Officer Wilt is a hero who ran toward danger to save the lives of several of my friends. I am forever grateful for him and his bravery. Let’s keep praying for him.”
Wilt was honored as he left the halls of Frazier Rehab. He was accompanied by family as well as some fellow officers.
After leaving the rehab facility, Wilt was driven to Southeast Christian Church on Blankenbaker Parkway where he was driven past a line of well-wishers. The van then headed for Oldham County where community members were invited to gather along Highway 53 in La Grange to greet Wilt.
LMPD shared their sentiment on their social media, honoring the heroic actions of Wilt.
“Resilience, strength, courage. Those are just a few words to describe Ofc. Nickolas Wilt. April 10th, innocent lives were lost. Ofc. Wilt, just 10 days on the job, answered the call to help stop an active shooter. Today, our hero is going home. He’s ready. #WiltsWarriors”
Louisville Metro Police Foundation has created a donation site to help pay for Wilt’s medical expenses.
To make a donation, click or tap here.
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On Friday, Washington, D.C. metro rail authorities announced that the city's commuter train lines would be slowed down to 35 mph on above-ground tracks because of extremely hot weather.
The service said that passengersshould expect delays, which had the possibility of causing issues in Washington's many open-air stations without air conditioning.
The issue is not unique to just the U.S. capital, as other major cities have expressed worry that high temperatures could cause major issues for commuter rail operations.
In Los Angeles, officials called extreme heat the "most pervasive risk that metro faces," the LAist reported in 2019.
The heat could cause failures with signal switches, station elevators and other mechanical equipment.
SEE MORE: Biden to sign executive order to encourage more US-made inventions
In a study that included researchers from Northwestern University's engineering school, Professor Alessandro Rotta Loria stated, "Subsurface temperature rises can also cause transportation infrastructure and public health issues, such as overheated subway rails that force trains to slow down or stop to avoid incidents with significant economic costs associated with the delay of public transportation services."
The study authors wrote, "Urban areas increasingly suffer from subsurface heat islands: an underground climate change responsible for environmental, public health, and transportation issues. Soils, rocks, and construction materials deform under the influence of temperature variations and excessive deformations can affect the performance of civil infrastructure."
In New York City, officials tried the short-term solution of placing fans in subway stations to try and create more breeze, and cool down subsurface temperatures.
Masoud Ghandehari, a professor at NYU of Urban Systems Engineering said he doesn't believe it's "financially viable" to ventilate the subway system in that city, and said it may not be physically possible.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kxlf.com/washington-among-cities-slowing-metro-rail-amid-hot-weather | 2023-07-29T02:53:12 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/washington-among-cities-slowing-metro-rail-amid-hot-weather |
HARTFORD, Conn. — (AP) — The troubled brother of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez was charged Friday, now in federal court, with new counts of threatening and stalking after authorities say he threatened to shoot up the University of Connecticut and kill three people in another state.
Dennis Hernandez was ordered to be held in custody after his appearance in the court in Hartford. A message seeking comment was sent Friday night to his attorney.
The new charges came days after it emerged that Hernandez was arrested July 18 on state charges after police said he threatened to kill officers and then urged them to shoot him at his home in Bristol. Officers had gone there after two people close to him raised concerns about his mental health, police said.
The arrest report said the 37-year-old had sent threatening messages, including ones about carrying out a shooting at UConn. He was a Huskies quarterback and wide receiver who went by DJ Hernandez in the mid-2000s.
Court filings in the new federal case include the same messages. Some say the writer is struggling financially, is frustrated at seeing other people get hired as coaches, feels owed by UConn, is planning on “taking down everything” and doesn't care “who gets caught in the crossfire.”
“I've died for years now and now its others peoples turn,” read a July 7 message sent to a woman in Hernandez's life. It followed a message the day before that warned: “UConn’s gonna see how accurate I am too with my targets."
Hernandez told another person that he drove July 7 to UConn’s campus in Storrs and to Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he coached quarterbacks during the 2010-11 season, according to court papers.
He had been due in state court that day on another case stemming from allegations that he threw a bag containing a brick and a note over a fence and onto ESPN's property in Bristol.
UConn police confirmed that a vehicle linked to Hernandez was on campus that day. Brown has said that its investigation didn't indicate Hernandez had been on campus in recent weeks.
Hernandez is due back in state court Tuesday and in federal court Aug. 11.
His younger brother, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, killed himself in 2017 while serving a murder sentence.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/sports/aaron-hernandezs/YMYWIPSEZLQSYGVY3YNLCUUMBY/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:14 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/sports/aaron-hernandezs/YMYWIPSEZLQSYGVY3YNLCUUMBY/ |
ALLEGHENY COUNTY — Emergency crews are searching for a 17-year-old boy in the Monongahela River.
Allegheny County dispatchers say the search began near the Mansfield Bridge at around 8:15 p.m. Friday night.
Investigators say Glassport emergency crews are leading the investigation.
Crews were staged across the river at the 200 block of Washington Avenue in Dravosburg.
The Glassport police chief said the boy was swimming and fishing with other people when he went under the water and did not resurface.
The people around him quickly called 911.
Drones are being used to search the river.
The chief said the river is about 15-20 feet deep.
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A relentless summer with record-breaking sweltering temperatures is putting the human body to the test.
"We are the warmest we have been in 1,000 years based on the best possible data that we have," said Carlos Del Castillo, the NASA Ocean Ecology Laboratory chief.
Scientific data is forecasting that July will be the hottest month globally on record, and possibly the warmest human civilization has ever experienced.
Dr. Pope Moseley is a research professor at Arizona State University and a lung and intensive care unit physician. He is one of two professors studying the impacts of extreme heat on the body in Arizona, using hospital and population data.
"The majority of people who are affected by heat and who seek hospital care or become seriously ill are not captured under the heat-related illness banner," said Moseley. "Heat is the force multiplier of chronic disease."
He says he wants to highlight the health implications of excessive heat beyond just the data on common heat illnesses.
"More than 65% of people have at least one chronic condition, and 40% have two or more. So, these chronic conditions are activated and made worse by heat," said Moseley.
SEE MORE: Over half the US is under extreme heat or flood warnings
He says research shows that during heat waves, blood stream infections go up, suicides rates tick up 1% to 2%, overdoses increase, and hospitalizations for dementia and heart attacks increase.
A recent report published by the American Heart Association also found that the risk of fatal heart attacks may double when combined with fine particle pollution and heat waves.
In Arizona, the Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s office is at 106% capacity. The coroner's office brought in 10 coolers to store bodies. The county spokesperson says this year is worse than past years, with reports showing 25 heat-associated deaths in the county so far this year.
In April, Mayor Kate Gallego of Phoenix called on the federal government to add extreme heat to FEMA's list of declarable disasters, a plea that she made again this week to the president. "We would love it if Congress would give you the ability to declare heat a disaster," said Mayor Gallego.
The move would unlock additional resources for emergency relief. Phoenix is forecast to hit or exceed an entire month with temperatures at 110 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. While other parts of the country can expect to cool off this weekend, there is little relief in sight for the Southwest.
"Phoenix is going to be the place that these health issues are solved, because Phoenix is the place that is ground zero for heat waves right now," said Gallego.
Trending stories at Scrippsnews.com | https://www.kxlf.com/what-are-some-health-complications-from-extreme-heat | 2023-07-29T02:53:18 | 0 | https://www.kxlf.com/what-are-some-health-complications-from-extreme-heat |
BALTIMORE — (AP) — The New York Yankees have been a sub-.500 team since Aaron Judge injured his toe in early June. Now they hope his return can help them rally for a postseason spot.
The Yankees reinstated Judge from the injured list on Friday before the opener of their weekend road series against the Baltimore Orioles. Judge admits he isn't fully recovered but says he's healthy enough to play.
“It’s feeling all right, feeling good. It’s not 100%. I don’t think it’ll be 100% until the end of the year," he said. "I think our biggest goal is just getting to a point where I could play, I could tolerate it.”
The game was delayed 2 hours, 32 minutes by rain, and when Judge finally batted in the top of the first, the New York fans in attendance gave him a big ovation while others at Camden Yards booed. He lined out to right field on the first pitch he saw.
Judge had been out since tearing a ligament in his right big toe June 3 when he crashed into the right-field fence while making a catch at Dodger Stadium.
Judge played a simulated game Wednesday at the team’s complex in Tampa, Florida, and returned to New York after that. The 2022 American League MVP faced live pitching Sunday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge homered during a simulated game Tuesday in Florida. He also played the field and ran the bases.
Judge was penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter, batting second Friday night. Boone said he could have potentially played in the field, but that will be a day-by-day decision.
“Obviously, as much as there’s urgency for us, we’ve got to be smart about that and make sure that in talking to Aaron, making sure he’s honest with his feedback about how he’s recovering, how he’s bouncing back," Boone said. "Obviously, how the toe’s doing, but how everything else is doing.”
New York is 19-23 since Judge got hurt in Los Angeles. The Yankees are 30-19 with the star outfielder, who also missed 10 games earlier this season with a right hip strain.
Judge set an AL record with 62 home runs last year. He is batting .291 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs in the first season of a $360 million, nine-year contract he signed last offseason.
“I guess he’s back and he’s ready," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "So we’ll have to pitch to him well.”
Baltimore entered this series with a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay. The Yankees were six games over .500 but at the bottom of the ultracompetitive division. New York was eight games behind the Orioles and 2 1/2 behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League's final wild card.
Judge was asked if the team's offensive struggles without him made him even more anxious to come back.
“No, I just wanted to get back," Judge said after a noticeable pause. "Any time you’re sitting out, even if we were winning and we had an eight-game lead in the division, or we were 10 games out of it, I want to be back out there battling with the guys.”
Boone said Judge had an MRI in the last few days, and Judge indicated that was a factor in his return.
“I didn’t want to come back and make it worse, and this is something that leads into the next year and the following year," he said. "Ligament’s stable. Last couple MRIs didn’t really show much healing, but this one did.”
To make room for Judge, the Yankees optioned infielder Oswald Peraza to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/sports/aaron-judge-lines/DJPKRVCHYSCPFO5YXS3M2TDG6Y/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:20 | 0 | https://www.wftv.com/sports/aaron-judge-lines/DJPKRVCHYSCPFO5YXS3M2TDG6Y/ |
GREENSBURG, Pa. — A group of kids got a taste of what it feels like to be a state trooper during a week-long event.
30 kids from Westmoreland County graduated from “Cadet Camp.”
Cadets got to learn about different areas of law enforcement, see live demonstrations and take part in military drills.
“We have a grueling week. They go through PT sessions, they have a morning run every morning, they have a military marching grill and they definitely learn military bearing,” Trooper Tristan Tappe said.
The graduation ceremony took place at Pitt Greensburg.
The event is hosted by the Westmoreland Camp Cadet Association and state police every year for kids ages 12-15.
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Global average sea temperatures are at unprecedented highs.
Ocean heat is contributing to significant ice melt and causing coral die-offs.
In places, our instruments are registering what may be the highest ocean temperatures ever recorded on Earth.
Scientists say the oceanic heat waves that have pushed sea surface temperatures to new records this summer are expected to persist, which may continue to contribute to extreme weather later in the year.
Svenja Ryan, a physical oceanographer at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Massachusetts, told NBC News: "We’re not even at the height of the summer. Typically, the ocean continues to warm until September, so I think certainly we can expect this heat wave to last into the fall."
But experts can't say exactly what exactly to expect in terms of effects — in some cases, the conditions now are unlike anything they've ever seen before.
So researchers are studying whether the warm ocean temperatures are influencing this year's weather. Rainfall patterns may have been affected in places as far apart as Norway, which saw unusually dry conditions this year, and South Asia, where the monsoon that waters rice and other crops has been weaker than usual.
Typically, warmer waters also fuel stronger hurricanes, which draw their energy from the ocean as they move across it.
However, any intensification of this year's storms may be moderated by the characteristic wind shear from the El Niño weather pattern in the Pacific; the competing winds make it difficult for storms to keep their form and strength.
SEE MORE: Rising ocean temps contributing to Florida's dying coral reefs
Looking past just this year's effects, warmer oceans are expected to increase pressure on ocean ecosystems, intensify hurricanes, and accelerate ice loss — which could then cause other imbalances in the climate that we're used to.
Research published this week found that accelerated melting from ice in Greenland is changing the speed of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Current, which is expected to eventually destabilize, now possibly as early as midcentury.
A weakening or collapse of the ocean-wide current could disrupt weather patterns on multiple continents, threaten the reliability of agricultural zones and displace millions of people due to sea level rise.
SEE MORE: A major Atlantic Ocean current could collapse as early as 2025
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ORLANDO, Fla. – A packed crowd looked to get results as local non-profits and organizations banned together to provide community resources to further the conversation of ending the stigma surrounding the HIV epidemic.
“It’s okay Andres, your going to be okay,” said Andres Acosta Ardila, who is the education program specialist for the onePULSE foundation.
Ardila worked with actors from Descolonizarte Teatro to tell stories of those living with HIV in both English and Spanish.
Friday, onePULSE in collaboration with local non-profits and organizations looked to get results for Zero HIV Stigma Day.
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“Well, number one, we see that some policies have negatively affected people living with HIV,” Ardila said.
Ardila said that here in Central Florida, the area ranks 3rd in new HIV cases.
According to AIDSvu, an HIV monitoring organization using data from the CDC, more than 13,000 people were living with HIV in Orange, Seminole, Osceola and Lake counties back in 2020.
It’s because of these numbers that Andres said people need to pay attention.
“Here, we don’t have as wide access to PREP as we do in other states,” Ardila said. “The other two is that the HIV stigma is still pretty prevalent in the South as a whole, and so we see people not getting tested or not getting to care.”
Outside of telling stories, there was a moment of remembrance as a quilt was presented in a ceremony to honor those who were lost during the early AIDS epidemic.
Gabriella Rodriguez, who is the executive director of QLatinx, and a panelist explained, “So there is about 50 tons of memorial quilts of individuals that basically have submitted, and the idea is to put them all out in Washington and they lay out as an artistic piece.”
Organizers and advocates say you don’t have to attend events like these to be a driving force to end stigmas.
The first step, she says, is to start by educating yourself followed by compassion.
Rodriguez said, “You also have to build that trust right, so I think if we can continue normalizing it and marketing it we can end the HIV epidemic.”
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BLAINE, Minn. — (AP) — With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier. Justin Thomas can't.
Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open.
A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended due to darkness with six players yet to finish — none within 10 shots of the lead.
Hodges, 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, opened with a 63 for the first-round lead and had a 15-under 127 total to break the tournament 36-hole record of 128 set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019.
Hodges was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.
“I’ve got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), we’re 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said. "We’ve committed to every shot we’ve hit so far, which has been great. We’ll continue to do it, because what do we have to lose."
A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the FedEx Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season. He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short.
Thomas, at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts. The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the playoffs. Looking to stay in strong consideration for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Starting on the back nine, Thomas put two balls in the water on the par-5 18th, falling to 1 under. An errant tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey on the par-3 fourth, before a strong finishing stretch was punctuated by a 30-foot putt on No. 9.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said before the tournament. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedEx Cup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way that this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it.”
He wasn’t the only player to put untimely dents in possible playoff plans by missing the cut. No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under) and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over) also get the weekend off.
Duncan, who has missed six cuts in his past eight events and 17 of 27 this season, shot a 67. He has back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“You never know when it’s coming, but I’ve been putting in the work and you always hope it shows up,” Duncan said. “But it doesn’t always show up when you want it to."
Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Streelman (68) were 10 under.
With one top-10 in 25 starts this season, Streelman is in a rare position.
“I haven’t been in the final groups in a while on a Saturday, so looking forward to that. At my age I don’t have much to lose, so go out and have some fun this weekend,” the 44-year-old Streelman said.
___
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Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/sports/lee-hodges-leads-3m/LK2QCRH2ZJTI2A2D5SGPYNTWR4/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:27 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/sports/lee-hodges-leads-3m/LK2QCRH2ZJTI2A2D5SGPYNTWR4/ |
DES MOINES, Iowa — (AP) — Donald Trump and his top rivals for the GOP presidential nomination took the stage one by one Friday night to address an influential gathering of Iowa Republicans, with none of the top-tier hopefuls mentioning that new federal charges had been filed against the former president just a day earlier.
Instead, Trump's competitors mostly reserved their sharpest criticism for President Joe Biden and a Democratic Party they argued had lost touch with mainstream America — failing to pounce on additional counts over Trump's retention of classified documents that might have otherwise been an opportunity to cut into his comfortable early lead in the polls.
"The time for excuses is over. We must get the job done," said Ron DeSantis. "I will get the job done."
The Florida governor also repeated his frequent promise to halt the "weaponization" of the Justice Department, an allusion to Trump's legal troubles. But he offered no specific thoughts on the cases against him — even though Trump is also bracing to be charged soon in Washington over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
The former president frequently avoids attending multicandidate events in person, questioning why he would share a stage with competitors who are badly trailing him in polls. Still, with Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucus less than six months away, Trump joined a dozen other GOP hopefuls in speaking to about 1,200 GOP members and activists at the Lincoln Day Dinner.
“If I weren’t running, I would have nobody coming after me,” Trump said in his only veiled reference to his legal issues. He also insisted the same would be true if he were trailing in the polls.
While DeSantis didn't mention the former president by name, meanwhile, Trump didn't return the favor. He told the crowd, “I wouldn’t take a chance on that one,” and repeatedly branded him “DeSanctus.”
Trump was even blunter before the dinner as he opened a campaign office in Urbandale, outside Des Moines.
“I understand the other candidates are falling very flat ... it’s like death,” Trump said.
More than 100 people packed the small office, many wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and shirts. They had waited in 100-degree weather to enter, and the poorly ventilated office quickly became sweltering. Staff handed out water bottles, and people fanned themselves with campaign handouts. Some used paper towels to wipe away sweat.
Similar strong support for the former president was evident during the dinner, when many attendees wore “Trump Country” stickers, including 72-year-old Diane Weaver of Ankeny, Iowa.
“I think he makes America great,” said Weaver, a retiree who plans to caucus for Trump. “I think he did it once and I think he can do it again.”
West Des Moines resident Jane Schrader chose to wear her “Trump Country” sticker on her pants instead of at eye level. “I’m not quite dyed-in-the-wool. I’m a supporter, but not that kind,” said the retired physician, explaining her sticker placement.
DeSantis, who like most of Friday's speakers vowed to visit all of Iowa's 99 counties, is Trump's strongest primary competitor but has been trying to reset his stalled campaign for two weeks. He's increasingly focusing on Iowa in its efforts on trying to derail Trump, and spoke at the dinner in the midst of a two-day bus tour of the state.
The governor's stumbles have raised questions about whether another candidate might be able to emerge from the field and catch the former president. Some evangelicals, who can be determinative in Iowa's caucuses, have pointed to South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s upbeat message and pulpit-style delivery as strengths that could help him rise there.
Scott, who also spoke Friday night and didn't mention Trump or the cases against him, took a swipe this week at DeSantis over the Florida governor's support for new standards that require the state's teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that "could be applied for their personal benefit."
The only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, Scott said all Americans should recognize how “devastating” slavery was. “There is no silver lining” to slavery, he added.
DeSantis has also faced criticism from teachers and civil rights leaders, as well as mounting pushback from some of his party's most prominent Black elected officials. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds said he hoped officials might “correct” parts of the curriculum addressing lessons on the developed skills of enslaved people. Texas Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt, Michigan Rep. John James and Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman now also running in the GOP presidential primary, have also criticized DeSantis.
Still, the governor continued to dig in on the issue, saying at a pre-dinner event in Oskaloosa on Friday, “D.C. Republicans all too often accept false narratives, accept lies that are perpetrated by the left."
John Niemeyer, 52, from Kalona, Iowa, attended DeSantis' event and was impressed. But, as a high school teacher, he’s not a fan of some of the governor's positions on education policy.
“I don’t want to make our classrooms a political battlefield,” he said, adding that it would be a “mistake” to make the issue the forefront of his campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris made her own Iowa stop on Friday, seeking to draw a contrast with the Republicans as she looked to lift President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Harris met in Des Moines with activists and discussed abortion rights, after Reynolds recently signed a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
“I do believe that we are witnessing a national agenda that is about a full-on attack on hard won freedoms and hard won rights,” the vice president said.
Trump, meanwhile, did face criticism Friday night from some Republican opponents, but only those considered long shots. Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison declared, “As a party, we need a new direction for America and for the GOP,” drawing only muted reaction from the crowd.
Loud and sustained boos came, however, for Hurd, who said, “The reason Donald Trump lost the election in 2020 is he failed to grow the GOP brand.”
The former congressman pressed on, saying: “Donald Trump is not running for president to make America great again. ... Donald Trump is running to stay out of prison."
That was the only reference to locking Trump up on the night, except for a surprising — and potentially coincidental — snippet of walk-on music played as the former president took the stage. Like all the candidates, the event's organizers played parts of Brooks & Dunn’s “Only in America” as Trump approached.
But his part included the lyrics: “One could end up going to prison. One just might be president.”
___
Weissert reported from Washington.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/news/politics/trump-his-top-2024/KY35FPIRKH7G7XJM6JO67FAKPQ/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:30 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/politics/trump-his-top-2024/KY35FPIRKH7G7XJM6JO67FAKPQ/ |
BLAINE, Minn. – With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier. Justin Thomas can't.
Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open.
A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended due to darkness with six players yet to finish — none within 10 shots of the lead.
Hodges, 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, opened with a 63 for the first-round lead and had a 15-under 127 total to break the tournament 36-hole record of 128 set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019.
Hodges was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.
“I’ve got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), we’re 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said. "We’ve committed to every shot we’ve hit so far, which has been great. We’ll continue to do it, because what do we have to lose."
A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the FedEx Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season. He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short.
Thomas, at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts. The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the playoffs. Looking to stay in strong consideration for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Starting on the back nine, Thomas put two balls in the water on the par-5 18th, falling to 1 under. An errant tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey on the par-3 fourth, before a strong finishing stretch was punctuated by a 30-foot putt on No. 9.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said before the tournament. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedEx Cup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way that this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it.”
He wasn’t the only player to put untimely dents in possible playoff plans by missing the cut. No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under) and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over) also get the weekend off.
Duncan, who has missed six cuts in his past eight events and 17 of 27 this season, shot a 67. He has back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“You never know when it’s coming, but I’ve been putting in the work and you always hope it shows up,” Duncan said. “But it doesn’t always show up when you want it to."
Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Streelman (68) were 10 under.
With one top-10 in 25 starts this season, Streelman is in a rare position.
“I haven’t been in the final groups in a while on a Saturday, so looking forward to that. At my age I don’t have much to lose, so go out and have some fun this weekend,” the 44-year-old Streelman said.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/07/29/lee-hodges-leads-the-3m-open-while-justin-thomas-misses-the-cut-to-hurt-his-playoff-hopes/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:32 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/07/29/lee-hodges-leads-the-3m-open-while-justin-thomas-misses-the-cut-to-hurt-his-playoff-hopes/ |
TORONTO — (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run for the Angels before leaving the game with leg cramps as the Toronto Blue Jays slugged three solo homers and rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Friday night.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic when his at-bat came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Angels manager Phil Nevin said after the game Ohtani left due to cramps. A day earlier, Ohtani left the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit because of cramps.
Stefanic struck out looking at a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Jordan Romano as Toronto ended the Angels' four-game winning streak.
Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Whit Merrifield homered for the Blue Jays, who are 24-11 when they hit two or more home runs.
Chapman hit a two-out drive in the second, his 14th of the season. Jansen homered to lead off the third, his 14th. Both home runs came off right-hander Lucas Giolito, who made his first start for the Angels since being acquired from the White Sox earlier this week.
Giolito (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Bo Bichette hit an RBI double off Giolito in the sixth and Merrifield made it 4-1 with a two-out homer off José Soriano in the seventh, his eighth. Merrifield finished 3 for 4 and has six home runs in his last 17 games. He hit a three-run homer in Thursday’s road win over the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays began the day in the third AL wild-card spot, three games ahead of the Angels. Los Angeles trails Boston and the New York Yankees in the postseason race.
After being greeted with a loud ovation from the sellout crowd of 42,106, Ohtani homered on the first pitch he faced, going deep in three straight at-bats over two games. The two-way superstar threw a one-hitter in the opener Thursday for his first career MLB shutout, then homered twice in the second game.
Ohtani’s 397-foot drive Friday came off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
Ohtani’s streak of homers ended when he struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from Gausman in the third. Ohtani singled in the sixth and grounded out against left-hander Tim Mayza in the eighth.
Gausman (8-5) allowed one run and five hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since June 21 at Miami. Gausman walked three and struck out nine, increasing his AL-leading total to 171.
Erik Swanson relieved Gausman after the Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Swanson struck out Trey Cabbage and pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar, then retired Luis Rengifo on a fly ball.
Mayza worked one inning and Romano got two outs in the ninth before Yimi García finished for his third save in six chances. Romano was pitching for the fifth time since leaving the July 11 All-Star game because of a sore back.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Before the game, manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani would get an extra day of rest before his next start, which was scheduled for next Thursday’s home game against Seattle. … SS Zach Neto (sore back) was scratched from the starting lineup and replaced by Andrew Velazquez. Rengifo took over in the leadoff spot.
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) will start on Tuesday against Baltimore, manager John Schneider said. With the Blue Jays beginning a stretch of 17 games in 17 days Friday, Schneider said Ryu will be part of a six-man rotation. … RHP Chad Green (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab appearance with Class-A Dunedin Saturday, his third.
NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Blue Jays OF George Springer, who came in stuck in an 0-for-16 slump, was dropped from the leadoff spot to fifth. Springer finished 0 for 4. Merrifield moved up to hit leadoff.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Gerardo Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Giolito.
UP NEXT
RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.10 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. LHP Reid Detmers (2-7, 4.38) goes for the Angels.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wftv.com/sports/ohtani-hits-majors/XAFCITJJCVP62ILQ5JBDKTCHVI/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:34 | 1 | https://www.wftv.com/sports/ohtani-hits-majors/XAFCITJJCVP62ILQ5JBDKTCHVI/ |
CHICAGO — Officers searching an apartment of a man charged with killing another man on a rooftop in Chicago discovered a young woman’s body in a refrigerator in early July, authorities said.
Chicago Police Department officers made the discovery while searching the apartment of Brandon Sanders, 33. According to The Associated Press, officers reportedly found the body of Iman Al-Sarraj, 18.
Al-Sarraj’s body was found beaten and inside a refrigerator, the AP reported.
Sanders was arrested on June 29, WLS-TV reported. He was charged with murder, robbery, and burglary for fatally stabbing Rasim Katanic, 69. Katanic was a Bosnian War refugee.
Katanic was working on a rooftop in West Ridge as an HVAC contractor when Sanders reportedly got on the roof, the news outlet reported. Katanic was working on a cooler compressor on May 12, according to the AP. He was later found stabbed to death.
Katanic’s daughter, Aida Sutardio, told the Chicago Sun-Times that her father had retired a few years ago but continued to help longtime clients including the restaurant, Tahoora Sweets & Bakery, where he was found on the roof, according to the AP.
Sanders was previously arrested in Montana for allegedly forcing his wife into prostitution, according to the Sun-Times.
Sanders has not yet been charged in the death of Al-Sarraj, according to the AP. | https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending/police-find-dead-woman-refrigerator-while-searching-apartment-man-charged-deadly-stabbing/RHFJHYSELFHOBOHROCFKR3ELUM/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:36 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/trending/police-find-dead-woman-refrigerator-while-searching-apartment-man-charged-deadly-stabbing/RHFJHYSELFHOBOHROCFKR3ELUM/ |
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Racing will resume at Churchill Downs in September, with no changes being made after a review of surfaces and safety protocols in the wake of 12 horse deaths, including seven in the days leading up to the Kentucky Derby in May.
The Louisville track suspended racing operations on June 7 and moved the rest of its spring meet to Ellis Park in western Kentucky at the recommendation of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, the sport’s national overseer.
Training continued at Churchill Downs during the track’s investigation.
Churchill Downs Inc. CEO Bill Carstanjen called the deaths "a series of unfortunate circumstances” and said the review “didn’t find anything fundamentally wrong or different about our track from previous years.”
“That, in a sense, can sometimes be unsatisfying,” he said. “But that’s business, and that’s sports.”
Two of the horse deaths occurred in undercard races on Derby day. Another five died later.
“The takeaway is, the track is very safe,” Carstanjen said Thursday on an earnings call with CDI investors.
"What we needed to do was spend some of this time in the interim, while we ran the rest of the (spring) meet at Ellis to just go soup to nuts through every single thing we do at the racetrack. There was nothing that jumped out as an apparent cause of the injuries, of the breakdowns; and, as we went through and rebuilt our processes from the ground up to check everything that we do to make extra sure, we didn’t find anything material.”
The track's fall meet begins Sept. 14 and runs through Oct. 1.
___
AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/07/29/churchill-downs-to-resume-racing-at-fall-meet-with-no-changes-after-horse-deaths/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:39 | 0 | https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/07/29/churchill-downs-to-resume-racing-at-fall-meet-with-no-changes-after-horse-deaths/ |
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The Permian Basin Barber College is offering free haircuts to any student at the “Back to School Free Haircuts Day” event.
The 1st annual event will also be hosting a school supply drive, along with local vendors, and food trucks.
“Come out we’re gonna have everything possible to make the long wait hopefully the large crowd be comfortable we’ll have food and everything outside we’ll have drinks and everything, I sell drinks in here cool atmosphere you can come talk to these guys come talk to us I am a licensed barber so I will be cutting hair as well just come, who knows maybe you’ll find your barber maybe you’ll find your cosmo,” said Jay Hernandez, a manager with the Permian Basin Barber College.
The free haircuts and supply drive will be at the Permian Basin Barber College, at 911 N. Grandview, from 12pm to 6pm on Sunday, July 30th. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/get-your-back-to-school-cuts-this-sunday-at-pbbc/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:41 | 1 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/get-your-back-to-school-cuts-this-sunday-at-pbbc/ |
MIAMI — (AP) — A federal judge in Miami on Friday criticized prosecutors for an apparent attempt to undercut a court order and take control of a oceanside condo belonging to a former Republican congressman ahead of a high-profile trial connected to a $50 million consulting contract with Venezuela's socialist government.
When David Rivera and an associate were charged last November with money laundering and acting as unregistered foreign agents for President Nicolás Maduro's government, prosecutors obtained a judge's order freezing several banking and brokerage accounts as well as Florida properties that they said were the product of some $24 million in ill-gotten gains.
Prosecutors also blocked eight more properties belonging to Rivera and his associate in Florida and Georgia that, while unrelated to criminal activity, would likely be seized if the two are found guilty.
This month, in a harshly worded ruling, Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres said that the government had no right to take the “innocent” Florida assets without a conviction. Rather than lift the restraining order, the government then asked the court to reconsider and said that it had since determined that three of the properties — including a condo that Rivera and his wife purchased in 2019 for $301,000 in New Smyrna Beach, Florida — could also be traced to the defendants' alleged lobbying on behalf of Maduro's government.
Judge Darrin Gayles on Friday expressed frustration with the government’s change in strategy.
“This reeks of gamesmanship,” said Gayles, who reversed his own sealed order of a week ago granting prosecutors' request that the real estate properties once again be frozen. “It seems like the government simply filed this because it lost.”
Assistant U.S. Attorney Nalina Sombuntham said prosecutors first learned from investigators that the property could be directly “tainted” by Rivera's consulting work with Venezuela in May or June but didn’t alert the court until July 14 — a week after Magistrate Judge Edwin Torres issued his 23-page order freeing up the properties.
Gayles, who is overseeing the criminal case, was unimpressed. “It seems like you’re wasting the court’s time," he said.
Rivera has been marred by scandals stretching back to his days in Congress from 2011 to 2013. He was arrested late last year on an eight-count criminal indictment alleging that at the start of the Trump administration he was part of a conspiracy to lobby on behalf of Venezuela to lower tensions with the U.S., resolve a legal dispute with a U.S. oil company and end U.S. sanctions against the South American nation — all without registering as a foreign agent.
As part of that effort, he arranged meetings in Washington, New York and Dallas for allies of Maduro with U.S. lawmakers and a top aide to former President Donald Trump, according to the indictment. To hide the sensitive nature of his work, prosecutors allege Rivera referred to Maduro in chat messages as the “bus driver,” a congressman as “Sombrero” and millions of dollars as “melons.”
Court records show Rivera's consulting work was closely coordinated with Raúl Gorrín, a Venezuelan insider and media tycoon who has himself been sanctioned and indicted in the U.S. on money laundering charges. Part of the more than $20 million that Rivera was alleged to have received from Venezuela was used to pay maintenance on one of Gorrin's yachts, according to prosecutors.
Rivera maintains that Gorrín was his attorney in Venezuela and that all of his work was conducted on behalf of PDV USA — a Delaware-based affiliate of Venezuelan-owned Citgo — and didn't require he register as a foreign agent.
The dispute over Rivera's assets has slowed the government's prosecution of the high-profile case. Eight months after being charged, Rivera has yet to be formally arraigned — normally a routine procedural step — because he said he needs access to the disputed assets to pay his attorneys.
Rivera’s attorneys in filings have accused prosecutors of waging a “scorched earth attack” against the south Florida GOP stalwart who once shared an apartment in Tallahassee with now Sen. Marco Rubio when both were state lawmakers.
“They lost, they got caught and they came to this court and it is wrong,” David Oscar Markus, an attorney for Rivera’s co-defendant Esther Nuhfer said.
Rivera was triumphant following Friday’s hearing, accusing the prosecutors of “misconduct.” Judge Gayles was more restrained, making no such finding of wrongdoing even as he questioned prosecutors' actions.
“Today’s decision shows that there are still honorable judges in America who will not tolerate misconduct from dishonest government prosecutors,” Rivera wrote The Associated Press in a text message. “Another victory for truth and justice.”
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of Florida didn't immediately comment.
___
Joshua Goodman on Twitter: @APJoshGoodman
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/news/world/judge-criticizes/IK2PFQNHDIZ2JDAHGMHTUFAL34/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:42 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/world/judge-criticizes/IK2PFQNHDIZ2JDAHGMHTUFAL34/ |
HARTFORD, Conn. – The troubled brother of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez was charged Friday, now in federal court, with new counts of threatening and stalking after authorities say he threatened to shoot up the University of Connecticut and kill three people in another state.
Dennis Hernandez was ordered to be held in custody after his appearance in the court in Hartford. A message seeking comment was sent Friday night to his attorney.
The new charges came days after it emerged that Hernandez was arrested July 18 on state charges after police said he threatened to kill officers and then urged them to shoot him at his home in Bristol. Officers had gone there after two people close to him raised concerns about his mental health, police said.
The arrest report said the 37-year-old had sent threatening messages, including ones about carrying out a shooting at UConn. He was a Huskies quarterback and wide receiver who went by DJ Hernandez in the mid-2000s.
Court filings in the new federal case include the same messages. Some say the writer is struggling financially, is frustrated at seeing other people get hired as coaches, feels owed by UConn, is planning on “taking down everything” and doesn't care “who gets caught in the crossfire.”
“I've died for years now and now its others peoples turn,” read a July 7 message sent to a woman in Hernandez's life. It followed a message the day before that warned: “UConn’s gonna see how accurate I am too with my targets."
Hernandez told another person that he drove July 7 to UConn’s campus in Storrs and to Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he coached quarterbacks during the 2010-11 season, according to court papers.
He had been due in state court that day on another case stemming from allegations that he threw a bag containing a brick and a note over a fence and onto ESPN’s property in Bristol.
UConn police confirmed that a vehicle linked to Hernandez was on campus that day. Brown has said that its investigation didn't indicate Hernandez had been on campus in recent weeks.
Hernandez is due back in state court Tuesday and in federal court Aug. 11.
His younger brother, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, killed himself in 2017 while serving a murder sentence. | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/07/29/aaron-hernandezs-brother-now-facing-federal-charges-over-alleged-threatening-messages/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:45 | 1 | https://www.clickorlando.com/sports/2023/07/29/aaron-hernandezs-brother-now-facing-federal-charges-over-alleged-threatening-messages/ |
(The Hill) — A federal judge in Montana issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, blocking the state from enforcing a law that bans certain drag performances, writing in an order that the law likely suffers from “constitutional maladies.”
Montana’s House Bill 359, passed by the state’s majority Republican legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, prohibits schools or libraries that receive state funding from hosting a drag story hour or “sexually oriented performance.” Performances are also prohibited from taking place in public or in the presence of a minor.
A group of 10 plaintiffs challenged the law in federal court earlier this month, arguing that the bill is “breathtakingly ambiguous and overbroad.” Plaintiffs include Adria Jawort, a transgender and two-spirit author whose lecture at a public library in Butte was canceled last month after officials determined that having her speak posed “too much of a legal risk” under the new law.
Montana Pride, the host of an annual LGBTQ Pride celebration in Helena, joined the lawsuit last week, arguing that city officials — as a result of the law — have withheld permits that are needed for this year’s Pride festival, which is slated to run from July 30 to August 6.
“The thirtieth annual Montana Pride is slated to begin in less than two days,” Chief Judge Brian Morris wrote in Friday’s order. “Plaintiffs, along with the approximately 15,000 Montanans who wish to attend the events, cannot avoid chilled speech or exposure to potential civil or criminal liability under H.B. 359 in the absence of the extraordinary remedy of a [temporary restraining order.]”
Republicans in the state legislature this session had argued the law was necessary to protect children from “mature themes” and obscene material.
But “Montana law already protects minors from obscene material,” Morris wrote Friday.
On top of that, the state conceded during a July 26 hearing that the statutory text of House Bill 359 regulates speech and expression outside of what is considered “legally obscene.”
The law additionally “contains no carveout for speech or expression with serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,” Morris argued, and the First Amendment protects “at least some of the speech and expression” regulated by the law.
Morris noted in the order that the only two other district courts to have considered First Amendment challenges to similar state drag bans in Tennessee and Florida “have confirmed that those laws constitute facially content-based restrictions” and are therefore discriminatory.
A federal judge in June ruled that a Tennessee law banning drag shows in public or where children could view them is unconstitutional. The same month, a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a similar ban on drag performances.
Attorneys for the state had sought to distinguish the Montana law from those of Florida and Tennessee on the basis that those laws failed to define “lewd.” But Morris on Friday argued that Montana’s drag ban also failed to define it.
The measure also fails to define “lascivious,” “flamboyant or parodic persona,” “salacious dancing” and “sexual manner,” Morris wrote. “The absence of definitions for these terms raises concerns for the Court about vagueness and overbreadth.”
In a statement to the Montana Free Press following Friday’s order, Montana Pride’s lead organizer, Kevin Hamm, said the court “got it right.”
“As I said throughout the legislature, drag is art. And drag bans not only infringe on free speech, but they are crafted (by design) to be so broad to allow for discrimination against trans & nonbinary people as well,” state Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr posted Friday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to Morris’s decision.
Zephyr, one of two openly transgender lawmakers in Montana, was censured by House Republicans in April after she said legislators who voted to pass a bill banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors would have “blood on your hands.”
In a statement to The Hill, Emily Flower, a spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), who is a defendant in the case, said the state will present its response at an upcoming preliminary injunction hearing.
“We look forward to presenting our written response and full argument at the upcoming preliminary injunction hearing to defend the law and protect minors from sexually oriented performances,” she said. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:47 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ |
UNITED NATIONS — (AP) — The United Nations has been forced to cut food, cash payments and assistance to millions of people in many countries because of “a crippling funding crisis” that has seen its donations plummet by about half as acute hunger is hitting record levels, a top official said Friday.
Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, told a news conference that at least 38 of the 86 countries where WFP operates have already seen cuts or plan to cut assistance soon — including Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen and West Africa.
He said WFP's operating requirement is $20 billion to deliver aid to everyone in need, but it was aiming for between $10 billion and $14 billion, which was what the agency had received in the past few years.
“We’re still aiming at that, but we have only so far this year gotten to about half of that, around $5 billion,” Skau said.
He said humanitarian needs were "going through the roof" in 2021 and 2022 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine and its global implications. "Those needs continue to grow, those drivers are still there," he said, "but the funding is drying up. So we're looking at 2024 (being) even more dire."
"The largest food and nutrition crisis in history today persists," Skau said. "This year, 345 million people continue to be acutely food insecure while hundreds of millions of people are at risk of worsening hunger."
Skau said conflict and insecurity remain the primary drivers of acute hunger around the world, along with climate change, unrelenting disasters, persistent food price inflation and mounting debt stress — all during a slowdown in the global economy.
WFP is looking to diversify its funding base, but he also urged the agency’s traditional donors to “step up and support us through this very difficult time.”
Asked why funding was drying up, Skau said to ask the donors.
“But it’s clear that aid budgets, humanitarian budgets, both in Europe and the United States, (are) not where they were in 2021-2022,” he said.
Skau said that in March, WFP was forced to cut rations from 75% to 50% for communities in Afghanistan facing emergency levels of hunger, and in May it was forced to cut food for 8 million people — 66% of the people it was assisting. Now, it is helping just 5 million people, he said. In Syria, 5.5 million people who relied on WFP for food were already on 50% rations, Skau said, and in July the agency cut all rations to 2.5 million of them. In the Palestinian territories, WFP cut its cash assistance by 20% in May and in June, and cut its caseload by 60%, or 200,000 people, he said. And in Yemen, he said, a huge funding gap will force WFP to cut aid to 7 million people as early as August.
In West Africa, where acute hunger is on the rise, Skau said, most countries are facing extensive ration cuts, particularly WFP's seven largest crisis operations: Burkina Faso, Mali, Chad, Central African Republic, Nigeria, Niger and Cameroon.
He said cutting aid to people who are only at the hunger level of crisis to help save those literally starving or in the category of catastrophic hunger means that those dropped will rapidly fall into the emergency and catastrophe categories, “and so we will have an additional humanitarian emergency on our hands down the road.”
“Ration cuts are clearly not the way to go forward,” Skau said.
He urged world leaders to prioritize humanitarian funding and invest in long-tern solutions to conflicts, poverty, development and other root causes of the current crisis.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/news/world/un-says-its-forced/B7CCKUEYGBKRI6TGYTQOKW2K3U/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:48 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/news/world/un-says-its-forced/B7CCKUEYGBKRI6TGYTQOKW2K3U/ |
HURON, Ohio (WJW) – A suspected bank burglar was busted when he gave new meaning to the term “direct deposit.”
Police in Huron, Ohio watched as the suspected bank thief dropped from the ceiling over the drive-thru, right in front of their eyes.
Police body camera video obtained by the WJW shows the incident. Officers can be heard ordering the suspect on the ground, and then helping get him out of the recycling can. The suspect was not injured.
“In my 35-plus years in law enforcement, this is the first time I ever saw a suspect fall into a garbage can,” said Huron Police Chief Terry Graham.
Graham said around 2:12 a.m. Wednesday, police received an alarm from the VacationLand Federal Credit Union located on University Drive East.
While checking the building, officers could hear noises coming from inside the roof area over the drive-thru.
They also noticed the recycling can positioned in the middle of the drive-thru lane, directly under a roof access door. The officers heard noises coming from inside the bank and patiently waited.
“I am most impressed with our officers’ patience in a very difficult situation,” the chief said. “The tactics they used, I think, substantially contributed to no one being injured and the suspect being taken into custody.”
Tristan Heidl, 27, was arrested and charged with breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and safecracking.
Police say Heidl had a backpack full of construction tools.
“He did get inside the bank and attempt to open numerous areas in the bank that contain money,” the chief said.
Police say Heidl was unable to get inside the safe and crash-landed with empty pockets.
“He didn’t get a dime,” Graham said.
Heidl is being held in the Erie County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is due back in court soon. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:53 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/national-news/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ |
HARTFORD, Conn. — (AP) — The troubled brother of the late NFL player Aaron Hernandez was charged Friday, now in federal court, with new counts of threatening and stalking after authorities say he threatened to shoot up the University of Connecticut and kill three people in another state.
Dennis Hernandez was ordered to be held in custody after his appearance in the court in Hartford. A message seeking comment was sent Friday night to his attorney.
The new charges came days after it emerged that Hernandez was arrested July 18 on state charges after police said he threatened to kill officers and then urged them to shoot him at his home in Bristol. Officers had gone there after two people close to him raised concerns about his mental health, police said.
The arrest report said the 37-year-old had sent threatening messages, including ones about carrying out a shooting at UConn. He was a Huskies quarterback and wide receiver who went by DJ Hernandez in the mid-2000s.
Court filings in the new federal case include the same messages. Some say the writer is struggling financially, is frustrated at seeing other people get hired as coaches, feels owed by UConn, is planning on “taking down everything” and doesn't care “who gets caught in the crossfire.”
“I've died for years now and now its others peoples turn,” read a July 7 message sent to a woman in Hernandez's life. It followed a message the day before that warned: “UConn’s gonna see how accurate I am too with my targets."
Hernandez told another person that he drove July 7 to UConn’s campus in Storrs and to Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he coached quarterbacks during the 2010-11 season, according to court papers.
He had been due in state court that day on another case stemming from allegations that he threw a bag containing a brick and a note over a fence and onto ESPN's property in Bristol.
UConn police confirmed that a vehicle linked to Hernandez was on campus that day. Brown has said that its investigation didn't indicate Hernandez had been on campus in recent weeks.
Hernandez is due back in state court Tuesday and in federal court Aug. 11.
His younger brother, former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez, killed himself in 2017 while serving a murder sentence.
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/aaron-hernandezs/YMYWIPSEZLQSYGVY3YNLCUUMBY/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:54 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/aaron-hernandezs/YMYWIPSEZLQSYGVY3YNLCUUMBY/ |
ODESSA, Texas (KMID/KPEJ) – The City of Odessa’s Park and Recreation Department, Streets Department, and Utilities Department teamed up to give the Ratliff Ranch Golf Links a major facelift.
The City of Odessa says six water valves, which had been broken for years, were replaced, potholes in the parking lot were filled, cosmetic improvements were made to the kitchen area, as well as some landscaping work.
The City says more improvements are on the way.
You can visit the Ratliff Ranch Golf Links at 7500 N. Grandview Avenue or call 432-550-8181. | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/ratliff-ranch-golf-links-sees-major-improvements/ | 2023-07-29T02:53:59 | 0 | https://www.yourbasin.com/news/ratliff-ranch-golf-links-sees-major-improvements/ |
BALTIMORE — (AP) — The New York Yankees have been a sub-.500 team since Aaron Judge injured his toe in early June. Now they hope his return can help them rally for a postseason spot.
The Yankees reinstated Judge from the injured list on Friday before the opener of their weekend road series against the Baltimore Orioles. Judge admits he isn't fully recovered but says he's healthy enough to play.
“It’s feeling all right, feeling good. It’s not 100%. I don’t think it’ll be 100% until the end of the year," he said. "I think our biggest goal is just getting to a point where I could play, I could tolerate it.”
The game was delayed 2 hours, 32 minutes by rain, and when Judge finally batted in the top of the first, the New York fans in attendance gave him a big ovation while others at Camden Yards booed. He lined out to right field on the first pitch he saw.
Judge had been out since tearing a ligament in his right big toe June 3 when he crashed into the right-field fence while making a catch at Dodger Stadium.
Judge played a simulated game Wednesday at the team’s complex in Tampa, Florida, and returned to New York after that. The 2022 American League MVP faced live pitching Sunday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since the injury. Manager Aaron Boone said Judge homered during a simulated game Tuesday in Florida. He also played the field and ran the bases.
Judge was penciled into the lineup as the designated hitter, batting second Friday night. Boone said he could have potentially played in the field, but that will be a day-by-day decision.
“Obviously, as much as there’s urgency for us, we’ve got to be smart about that and make sure that in talking to Aaron, making sure he’s honest with his feedback about how he’s recovering, how he’s bouncing back," Boone said. "Obviously, how the toe’s doing, but how everything else is doing.”
New York is 19-23 since Judge got hurt in Los Angeles. The Yankees are 30-19 with the star outfielder, who also missed 10 games earlier this season with a right hip strain.
Judge set an AL record with 62 home runs last year. He is batting .291 with 19 homers and 40 RBIs in the first season of a $360 million, nine-year contract he signed last offseason.
“I guess he’s back and he’s ready," Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said. "So we’ll have to pitch to him well.”
Baltimore entered this series with a 1 1/2-game lead in the AL East over Tampa Bay. The Yankees were six games over .500 but at the bottom of the ultracompetitive division. New York was eight games behind the Orioles and 2 1/2 behind the Toronto Blue Jays for the American League's final wild card.
Judge was asked if the team's offensive struggles without him made him even more anxious to come back.
“No, I just wanted to get back," Judge said after a noticeable pause. "Any time you’re sitting out, even if we were winning and we had an eight-game lead in the division, or we were 10 games out of it, I want to be back out there battling with the guys.”
Boone said Judge had an MRI in the last few days, and Judge indicated that was a factor in his return.
“I didn’t want to come back and make it worse, and this is something that leads into the next year and the following year," he said. "Ligament’s stable. Last couple MRIs didn’t really show much healing, but this one did.”
To make room for Judge, the Yankees optioned infielder Oswald Peraza to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/aaron-judge-lines/DJPKRVCHYSCPFO5YXS3M2TDG6Y/ | 2023-07-29T02:54:01 | 0 | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/aaron-judge-lines/DJPKRVCHYSCPFO5YXS3M2TDG6Y/ |
BLAINE, Minn. — (AP) — With the FedEx Cup two weeks away, Lee Hodges can breathe easier. Justin Thomas can't.
Hodges birdied four of his last six holes for a 7-under 64 and a four-stroke lead over Tyler Duncan on Friday after almost two rounds of the 3M Open.
A nearly two-hour afternoon weather delay led to play being suspended due to darkness with six players yet to finish — none within 10 shots of the lead.
Hodges, 74th in the FedEx Cup points race, opened with a 63 for the first-round lead and had a 15-under 127 total to break the tournament 36-hole record of 128 set by Bryson DeChambeau in 2019.
Hodges was 3 under on the front nine and added a 33-foot birdie putt on No. 13, followed by birdies from 14 feet on No. 14 and 11 feet on No. 17.
“I’ve got a great attitude out there. Me and my caddie (Andrew Medley), we’re 70-something on the points list, like what do we have to lose, you know?” Hodges said. "We’ve committed to every shot we’ve hit so far, which has been great. We’ll continue to do it, because what do we have to lose."
A lengthy last-hole putt was not enough to overcome a couple bad holes as Thomas aims to make the FedEx Cup playoffs for the eighth straight season. He birdied four of his last five holes to shoot a shot an even-par 71, leaving him 2 under for the tournament and two strokes short.
Thomas, at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup standings, has missed five cuts in his last seven starts. The top 70 next week after the Wyndham Championship will advance to the playoffs. Looking to stay in strong consideration for the U.S. Ryder Cup team, Thomas has just two top-10 finishes in 14 tournaments since mid-February.
Starting on the back nine, Thomas put two balls in the water on the par-5 18th, falling to 1 under. An errant tee shot and poor chip led to another double bogey on the par-3 fourth, before a strong finishing stretch was punctuated by a 30-foot putt on No. 9.
“This is a good chance for me to learn a little bit about myself and push myself and become better,” Thomas said before the tournament. “I mean, this game, nothing’s given to you. I’ve had great chances to win the FedEx Cup the last five or six years and now I’m trying to make the playoffs. That’s just the way that this sport is. And it can happen to anybody, so you’ve just got to go out and get it.”
He wasn’t the only player to put untimely dents in possible playoff plans by missing the cut. No. 70 K.H. Lee (1 under), No. 72 Davis Thompson (2 under) and No. 90 Gary Woodland (3 over) also get the weekend off.
Duncan, who has missed six cuts in his past eight events and 17 of 27 this season, shot a 67. He has back-to-back bogey-free rounds.
“You never know when it’s coming, but I’ve been putting in the work and you always hope it shows up,” Duncan said. “But it doesn’t always show up when you want it to."
Defending champion Tony Finau (66), J.T. Poston (66), Brandt Snedeker (68) and Kevin Streelman (68) were 10 under.
With one top-10 in 25 starts this season, Streelman is in a rare position.
“I haven’t been in the final groups in a while on a Saturday, so looking forward to that. At my age I don’t have much to lose, so go out and have some fun this weekend,” the 44-year-old Streelman said.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/lee-hodges-leads-3m/LK2QCRH2ZJTI2A2D5SGPYNTWR4/ | 2023-07-29T02:54:07 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/lee-hodges-leads-3m/LK2QCRH2ZJTI2A2D5SGPYNTWR4/ |
TORONTO — (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run for the Angels before leaving the game with leg cramps as the Toronto Blue Jays slugged three solo homers and rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Friday night.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic when his at-bat came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Angels manager Phil Nevin said after the game Ohtani left due to cramps. A day earlier, Ohtani left the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit because of cramps.
Stefanic struck out looking at a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Jordan Romano as Toronto ended the Angels' four-game winning streak.
Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Whit Merrifield homered for the Blue Jays, who are 24-11 when they hit two or more home runs.
Chapman hit a two-out drive in the second, his 14th of the season. Jansen homered to lead off the third, his 14th. Both home runs came off right-hander Lucas Giolito, who made his first start for the Angels since being acquired from the White Sox earlier this week.
Giolito (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Bo Bichette hit an RBI double off Giolito in the sixth and Merrifield made it 4-1 with a two-out homer off José Soriano in the seventh, his eighth. Merrifield finished 3 for 4 and has six home runs in his last 17 games. He hit a three-run homer in Thursday’s road win over the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays began the day in the third AL wild-card spot, three games ahead of the Angels. Los Angeles trails Boston and the New York Yankees in the postseason race.
After being greeted with a loud ovation from the sellout crowd of 42,106, Ohtani homered on the first pitch he faced, going deep in three straight at-bats over two games. The two-way superstar threw a one-hitter in the opener Thursday for his first career MLB shutout, then homered twice in the second game.
Ohtani’s 397-foot drive Friday came off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
Ohtani’s streak of homers ended when he struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from Gausman in the third. Ohtani singled in the sixth and grounded out against left-hander Tim Mayza in the eighth.
Gausman (8-5) allowed one run and five hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since June 21 at Miami. Gausman walked three and struck out nine, increasing his AL-leading total to 171.
Erik Swanson relieved Gausman after the Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Swanson struck out Trey Cabbage and pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar, then retired Luis Rengifo on a fly ball.
Mayza worked one inning and Romano got two outs in the ninth before Yimi García finished for his third save in six chances. Romano was pitching for the fifth time since leaving the July 11 All-Star game because of a sore back.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Before the game, manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani would get an extra day of rest before his next start, which was scheduled for next Thursday’s home game against Seattle. … SS Zach Neto (sore back) was scratched from the starting lineup and replaced by Andrew Velazquez. Rengifo took over in the leadoff spot.
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) will start on Tuesday against Baltimore, manager John Schneider said. With the Blue Jays beginning a stretch of 17 games in 17 days Friday, Schneider said Ryu will be part of a six-man rotation. … RHP Chad Green (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab appearance with Class-A Dunedin Saturday, his third.
NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Blue Jays OF George Springer, who came in stuck in an 0-for-16 slump, was dropped from the leadoff spot to fifth. Springer finished 0 for 4. Merrifield moved up to hit leadoff.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Gerardo Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Giolito.
UP NEXT
RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.10 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. LHP Reid Detmers (2-7, 4.38) goes for the Angels.
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/ohtani-hits-majors/XAFCITJJCVP62ILQ5JBDKTCHVI/ | 2023-07-29T02:54:13 | 1 | https://www.wpxi.com/sports/ohtani-hits-majors/XAFCITJJCVP62ILQ5JBDKTCHVI/ |
(The Hill) — A federal judge in Montana issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, blocking the state from enforcing a law that bans certain drag performances, writing in an order that the law likely suffers from “constitutional maladies.”
Montana’s House Bill 359, passed by the state’s majority Republican legislature and signed into law by GOP Gov. Greg Gianforte in May, prohibits schools or libraries that receive state funding from hosting a drag story hour or “sexually oriented performance.” Performances are also prohibited from taking place in public or in the presence of a minor.
A group of 10 plaintiffs challenged the law in federal court earlier this month, arguing that the bill is “breathtakingly ambiguous and overbroad.” Plaintiffs include Adria Jawort, a transgender and two-spirit author whose lecture at a public library in Butte was canceled last month after officials determined that having her speak posed “too much of a legal risk” under the new law.
Montana Pride, the host of an annual LGBTQ Pride celebration in Helena, joined the lawsuit last week, arguing that city officials — as a result of the law — have withheld permits that are needed for this year’s Pride festival, which is slated to run from July 30 to August 6.
“The thirtieth annual Montana Pride is slated to begin in less than two days,” Chief Judge Brian Morris wrote in Friday’s order. “Plaintiffs, along with the approximately 15,000 Montanans who wish to attend the events, cannot avoid chilled speech or exposure to potential civil or criminal liability under H.B. 359 in the absence of the extraordinary remedy of a [temporary restraining order.]”
Republicans in the state legislature this session had argued the law was necessary to protect children from “mature themes” and obscene material.
But “Montana law already protects minors from obscene material,” Morris wrote Friday.
On top of that, the state conceded during a July 26 hearing that the statutory text of House Bill 359 regulates speech and expression outside of what is considered “legally obscene.”
The law additionally “contains no carveout for speech or expression with serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value,” Morris argued, and the First Amendment protects “at least some of the speech and expression” regulated by the law.
Morris noted in the order that the only two other district courts to have considered First Amendment challenges to similar state drag bans in Tennessee and Florida “have confirmed that those laws constitute facially content-based restrictions” and are therefore discriminatory.
A federal judge in June ruled that a Tennessee law banning drag shows in public or where children could view them is unconstitutional. The same month, a federal judge in Florida temporarily blocked the state from enforcing a similar ban on drag performances.
Attorneys for the state had sought to distinguish the Montana law from those of Florida and Tennessee on the basis that those laws failed to define “lewd.” But Morris on Friday argued that Montana’s drag ban also failed to define it.
The measure also fails to define “lascivious,” “flamboyant or parodic persona,” “salacious dancing” and “sexual manner,” Morris wrote. “The absence of definitions for these terms raises concerns for the Court about vagueness and overbreadth.”
In a statement to the Montana Free Press following Friday’s order, Montana Pride’s lead organizer, Kevin Hamm, said the court “got it right.”
“As I said throughout the legislature, drag is art. And drag bans not only infringe on free speech, but they are crafted (by design) to be so broad to allow for discrimination against trans & nonbinary people as well,” state Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr posted Friday on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, in response to Morris’s decision.
Zephyr, one of two openly transgender lawmakers in Montana, was censured by House Republicans in April after she said legislators who voted to pass a bill banning gender-affirming health care for transgender minors would have “blood on your hands.”
In a statement to The Hill, Emily Flower, a spokesperson for Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R), who is a defendant in the case, said the state will present its response at an upcoming preliminary injunction hearing.
“We look forward to presenting our written response and full argument at the upcoming preliminary injunction hearing to defend the law and protect minors from sexually oriented performances,” she said. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ | 2023-07-29T02:54:54 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/federal-judge-halts-montana-ban-on-drag-performances/ |
TORONTO (AP) — Shohei Ohtani hit his major league-leading 39th home run for the Angels before leaving the game with leg cramps as the Toronto Blue Jays slugged three solo homers and rallied to beat Los Angeles 4-1 on Friday night.
Ohtani was replaced by pinch-hitter Michael Stefanic when his at-bat came up with the bases loaded in the ninth inning. Angels manager Phil Nevin said after the game Ohtani left due to cramps. A day earlier, Ohtani left the second game of a doubleheader at Detroit because of cramps.
Stefanic struck out looking at a 3-2 pitch from right-hander Jordan Romano as Toronto ended the Angels' four-game winning streak.
Matt Chapman, Danny Jansen and Whit Merrifield homered for the Blue Jays, who are 24-11 when they hit two or more home runs.
Chapman hit a two-out drive in the second, his 14th of the season. Jansen homered to lead off the third, his 14th. Both home runs came off right-hander Lucas Giolito, who made his first start for the Angels since being acquired from the White Sox earlier this week.
Giolito (6-7) allowed three runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. He walked one and struck out five.
Bo Bichette hit an RBI double off Giolito in the sixth and Merrifield made it 4-1 with a two-out homer off José Soriano in the seventh, his eighth. Merrifield finished 3 for 4 and has six home runs in his last 17 games. He hit a three-run homer in Thursday’s road win over the Dodgers.
The Blue Jays began the day in the third AL wild-card spot, three games ahead of the Angels. Los Angeles trails Boston and the New York Yankees in the postseason race.
After being greeted with a loud ovation from the sellout crowd of 42,106, Ohtani homered on the first pitch he faced, going deep in three straight at-bats over two games. The two-way superstar threw a one-hitter in the opener Thursday for his first career MLB shutout, then homered twice in the second game.
Ohtani’s 397-foot drive Friday came off Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman.
Ohtani’s streak of homers ended when he struck out swinging on a 2-2 pitch from Gausman in the third. Ohtani singled in the sixth and grounded out against left-hander Tim Mayza in the eighth.
Gausman (8-5) allowed one run and five hits in six-plus innings to win for the first time since June 21 at Miami. Gausman walked three and struck out nine, increasing his AL-leading total to 171.
Erik Swanson relieved Gausman after the Angels loaded the bases with no outs in the seventh. Swanson struck out Trey Cabbage and pinch-hitter Eduardo Escobar, then retired Luis Rengifo on a fly ball.
Mayza worked one inning and Romano got two outs in the ninth before Yimi García finished for his third save in six chances. Romano was pitching for the fifth time since leaving the July 11 All-Star game because of a sore back.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Angels: Before the game, manager Phil Nevin said Ohtani would get an extra day of rest before his next start, which was scheduled for next Thursday’s home game against Seattle. … SS Zach Neto (sore back) was scratched from the starting lineup and replaced by Andrew Velazquez. Rengifo took over in the leadoff spot.
Blue Jays: LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery) will start on Tuesday against Baltimore, manager John Schneider said. With the Blue Jays beginning a stretch of 17 games in 17 days Friday, Schneider said Ryu will be part of a six-man rotation. … RHP Chad Green (Tommy John surgery) will make a rehab appearance with Class-A Dunedin Saturday, his third.
NEW-LOOK LINEUP
Blue Jays OF George Springer, who came in stuck in an 0-for-16 slump, was dropped from the leadoff spot to fifth. Springer finished 0 for 4. Merrifield moved up to hit leadoff.
ROSTER MOVES
The Angels optioned RHP Gerardo Reyes to Triple-A Salt Lake to make room on the roster for Giolito.
UP NEXT
RHP Alek Manoah (2-8, 6.10 ERA) starts for the Blue Jays on Saturday afternoon. LHP Reid Detmers (2-7, 4.38) goes for the Angels.
___
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Bear takes dip in Burbank swimming pool amid LA heatwave
BURBANK, Calif. - Hot bear summer is apparently in full effect in Los Angeles County.
The Burbank Police Department responded to a call of a bear in a swimming pool Friday. Props to the Burbank PD staffer for taking a scenic video as the bear is seen lounging and taking brief glances of the city's beautiful hillside.
It is unknown if the furry intruder asked Burbank PD to Airdrop the flattering videos to their phone.
On a much more serious note, Burbank PD shared several tips on what the community should do if they encounter bears.
In a flyer below, police are warning the public to never feed the furry animals and keep dogs leashed: | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/bear-takes-dip-in-burbank-swimming-pool-amid-la-heatwave | 2023-07-29T02:54:57 | 1 | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/bear-takes-dip-in-burbank-swimming-pool-amid-la-heatwave |
(NEXSTAR) – It’s been a rough week for Trader Joe’s after the popular grocery store chain had to notify customers on Thursday and Friday about products potentially containing foreign matter.
On Friday, Trader Joe’s announced it was recalling frozen falafel balls (SKU# 93935) that may contain rocks.
The recalled falafel was sold in Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, New Hampshire, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington D.C.
One day earlier, Trader Joe’s warned customers that its “Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup” may contain insects. Trader Joe’s says there have not been reported cases of illness from the soup.
The recalled soup (SKU# 68470) has the Use By dates of 07/18/23 – 09/15/23.
A third recall, updated Tuesday to include a sell by date, warns that there may be rocks in the company’s Almond Windmill Cookies and the Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies.
Those cookies have the following dates:
- Almond Windmill Cookies: SELL BY 10/02/23 and 10/19/23 through 10/21/23
- Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies: SELL BY 10/17/23 through 10/21/23
In all of the recalls, anyone who bought or received a donation containing one of the potentially tainted items is urged to throw it away or return it to Trader Joe’s for a refund.
Customers with questions may contact Trader Joe’s Customer Relations at (626) 599-3817 [Mondays-Fridays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT] or send Trader Joe’s an email. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/trader-joes-recalls-falafel-and-broccoli-cheddar-soup-for-possible-rocks-insects/ | 2023-07-29T02:55:00 | 1 | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/trader-joes-recalls-falafel-and-broccoli-cheddar-soup-for-possible-rocks-insects/ |
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Bite of Seattle payment system frustrates customers, businesses
SEATTLE - One of Seattle's signature events returned this last weekend after four-year hiatus.
Bite of Seattle reeled in more than 75,000 people to Seattle Center on the first night alone. But for many at the event, the eating extravaganza was less than fulfilling.
This year was the first year the Bite of Seattle went solely cashless, but it wasn't cashless in the sense of card-only. If you wanted to order and purchase food, you had to go through the "CHEQ" app. However, according to consumers and vendors, this was the source of many headaches this weekend.
"It was terrible," said Anitra Fuller, who attended the event Sunday. "We waited for two weeks to go to the bite. We go every year - probably ten or 15 years. We wait on this day. We were excited."
That excitement slowly faded once her family made it to Seattle Center. They noticed fewer vendors in years past, and now to order food, they need the CHEQ app.
"We download the app -- took ten minutes because the internet was really slow," Fuller said. "So you download the app, you purchase the food and then you move to one line and then you tell them you've paid for the food. Then you get out of line and get back to the other line and pick up the food."
Fuller told FOX 13, the series of lines made for hours of frustration -- not just for her family, but for others as well.
"Every line was long," Fuller said. "I’ve never seen the lines that long. Usually, you can order your food and you can get it within five to ten minutes. You think, okay I’m getting lobster or I’m getting some big-ticket items and it’s usually quick. You don’t mind waiting, but all of the lines were long and people were more confused on what line to stand in."
Several people also took to social media and Yelp reviews.
"I do like having one app for all orders. The one thing I didn't like from past Bites were the giant lines to order and how they caused massive clogs. I like ordering on my phone then just wait in the general vicinity, out of the way. But the way they present themselves is not great, I can see why there are many negative reactions," wrote Reddit user Draelmar.
On Instagram user wrote:
The CHEQ app was designed to make it easier for folks at The Bite. According to Fuller, it only made a world of cashless transactions unattractive.
"It was a total waste of time," Fuller said. "We don’t live close, so we had to fight a little bit of traffic. My husband was so worried about the weekend and the traffic — and I kept saying ‘we’re going to The Bite, we’re going to The Bite.’ But I will not go to an event that is working with the same system."
Vendors who were trying to sell their products weren't at ease this weekend either. They were also battling technical difficulties.
"Due to the slowness of the service, we never saw their orders," said Lori Green from Change Your Narrative Today. "So, we would have to actually look at their phones, write down the order, and then send it to the back to have that order made."
Green was at The Bite selling freeze-dried candy and ice cream. She told FOX 13, the CHEQ system was supposed to keep track of everyone's transactions, but their numbers never added up.
"When we left, we had 500 pre-packaged items of one flavor and 150 pre-packaged items of the other," Green said. "We did not sell on their list that many items, but we were completely sold out of them. So, we are short 102 of one item and we are also short on the calculations of about 40 to 50 of the other item. I don't know what happened to those transactions."
Green knew it would be a cashless event, but didn't know the CHEQ app would be unreliable for customers and her.
"I can't see how one would fathom that users could just walk in and use a system without any learning, knowledge, or training," Green said.
FOX 13 reached out to the Bite of Seattle to ask what happened with the app and why it didn't work for so many. They directed us to CHEQ, and CHEQ's CEO, Tom Lapham, said in a statement:
"In its return this year, Bite of Seattle saw record-breaking attendance, a great line-up of live music, and an eclectic variety of food in an event free for attendees. There were also some key learnings regarding how attendees and vendors used the CHEQ app, and how we can better communicate expectations and processes around it. We appreciate all of the attendees and vendors who have shared their feedback, and look forward to refining the experience for all in 2024."
As far as the Bite in 2024, Fuller said she will not return as a customer. Green said she'd reconsider coming back as a vendor if the event allowed other ways of paying that don't include the CHEQ app. | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/bite-of-seattle-payment-system-frustrates-customers-businesses | 2023-07-29T02:55:04 | 0 | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/bite-of-seattle-payment-system-frustrates-customers-businesses |
HURON, Ohio (WJW) – A suspected bank burglar was busted when he gave new meaning to the term “direct deposit.”
Police in Huron, Ohio watched as the suspected bank thief dropped from the ceiling over the drive-thru, right in front of their eyes.
Police body camera video obtained by the WJW shows the incident. Officers can be heard ordering the suspect on the ground, and then helping get him out of the recycling can. The suspect was not injured.
“In my 35-plus years in law enforcement, this is the first time I ever saw a suspect fall into a garbage can,” said Huron Police Chief Terry Graham.
Graham said around 2:12 a.m. Wednesday, police received an alarm from the VacationLand Federal Credit Union located on University Drive East.
While checking the building, officers could hear noises coming from inside the roof area over the drive-thru.
They also noticed the recycling can positioned in the middle of the drive-thru lane, directly under a roof access door. The officers heard noises coming from inside the bank and patiently waited.
“I am most impressed with our officers’ patience in a very difficult situation,” the chief said. “The tactics they used, I think, substantially contributed to no one being injured and the suspect being taken into custody.”
Tristan Heidl, 27, was arrested and charged with breaking and entering, possession of criminal tools and safecracking.
Police say Heidl had a backpack full of construction tools.
“He did get inside the bank and attempt to open numerous areas in the bank that contain money,” the chief said.
Police say Heidl was unable to get inside the safe and crash-landed with empty pockets.
“He didn’t get a dime,” Graham said.
Heidl is being held in the Erie County Jail on a $50,000 bond. He is due back in court soon. | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ | 2023-07-29T02:55:06 | 0 | https://cw33.com/news/nexstar-media-wire/watch-ohio-bank-burglary-suspect-falls-from-ceiling-lands-in-recycling-can-near-officers/ |
Things To Do this weekend: Eastside Beer Week, Seahawks Training Camp & more
Eastside Beer Week
SEATTLE - From July 28 through July 30, you can find multiple locations such as Remlinger Farms, Cairn Brewing and many other breweries and sites to join in on the beer tasting and dining in celebration of beer week. For more information click here.
Seahawks Training Camp
With the countdown to kickoff underway, Seahawks Training Camp is now here! Take a trip to the Seahawks training facility and join the other 12s as they watch their team gear up for the season. The upcoming ‘Legends + Throwback Day’ on July 30 is currently sold out, but to join the waiting list and find tickets for other dates, click here.
Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair
The Bellevue Arts Museum hosts the largest award-winning arts and crafts festival in the Northwest and from Friday, July 28 to Sunday, July 30 you get to participate in all the festivities. For information click here.
‘Reign of Style’ Hair Show and Competition
"Celebrating nine years of excellence," the annual northwest competition allows for barbers, stylists and cosmetology schools to display their talents in different categories. Happening Sunday, July 30 be sure to find more information here.
Goodguys Garage Pacific Northwest Nationals
Held at the Washington State Fair Events Center from July 28 through July 30 will be the 35th annual Goodguys garage car show. For more information on spectator tickets or even registering your own vehicle, click here.
Forest For The Trees
Forest For the Trees believes that are vital within cultural ecosystems and the hope of this event is to increase the accessibility and engagement of public with their unique work. This event includes a 6-floor immersive experience for the visitors as they explore a world of art activation. For more information click here.
Carvana PPA Tour
Come and watch some of the best as the Carvana Professional Pickleball Association Tour makes its way to the state of Washington from July 26-July 30. All games will be streamed live to different platforms, but tickets are also available for those who would like to watch in person. For more information click here.
Utopian Garden
A state-of-the-art projection experience is waiting for you to see at the Utopian Garden. Celebrating art, science and nature the Utopian Garden is a place where you can play in a fantasy realm brought to life by flora and fauna from Berlin, Germany. For information, click here.
Northwest Balboa Festival
From July 28 to July 30, you can enjoy three nights of live music, workshops, practice sessions and dancing at the all-new venue in Seattle. For more information click here.
Ananda Mela
Come down to Redmond City Hall as the Vedic Cultural Center presents ‘Ananda Mela’ a Joyful Festival of India. Here you can enjoy live bands, dance performances and workshops and much more. Click here for more information.
Ongoing events
Wild Waves
The theme park and water park is open daily throughout the summer. Cool off on some water slides or feel the breeze on a roller coaster. Tickets start at $49.99 for a single-day adult ticket. Right now, Wild Waves is having a special on regular season pass tickets, for $69.99 until July 4. Season passes are usually $119.99. Located at 36201 Enchanted Pkwy S in Federal Way.
See more information on tickets and activities here.
MoPOP Musuem: Hidden Worlds Exhibition
LAIKA, an animation company based out of the Portland, Oregon area is going to have a feature exhibit, showing the hidden worlds of stop-motion animation and claymation at the Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle. The event runs now, through the end of summer 2024.
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 24: General view of atmosphere as seen during The Academy Presents "An Animation Showcase: From Celluloid To CGI" the Nuts and Bolts of Stop Motion: The Artistry and Ingenuity of LAIKA at The Academy Theatre at Lighthouse Interna
Food Truck Festival
You can catch Food Truck Festival at Westlake Park (401 Pine Street, Seattle) until the end of August. See the schedule for the trucks here. | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/things-to-do-this-weekend-eastside-beer-week-seahawks-training-camp-more | 2023-07-29T02:55:10 | 1 | https://www.fox13seattle.com/news/things-to-do-this-weekend-eastside-beer-week-seahawks-training-camp-more |
AUSTIN, Texas — The weekend is here and, as always, there are a ton of things going on in the Austin area! From a live storytelling event to a combination car show and concert, there's no shortage of fun activities happening over the next few days.
Here’s a breakdown of just some of the events you can attend this weekend.
Color Arc Productions' "Stories About Comfort Food" is a live storytelling event that aims to feed the soul. The event will feature seven storytellers sharing stories inspired by "comfort food," and it will end with a screening of the trailer for "Pizza My Heart," Color Arc Productions' new comedy short film. Complimentary drinks and snack will be available to attendees.
Christine Hoang with Color Arc Productions joined KVUE Midday to talk about the event:
Tickets are free with an RSVP.
When: Saturday starting at 7 p.m. (doors)
Where: Austin Cinemaker Space, located at 2200 Tillery St.
Looking to find a little inspiration of your own? The Contemporary Austin is hosting "Drop In and Create!," a hands-on art experience featuring special art activities that are fun for the whole family. Participants will start by checking out the current exhibition on view before creating some art of their own.
Activities are free with admission to The Contemporary, which is $10 for the general public and free for museum members and kids under 18.
When: Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Where: The Contemporary Austin at the Jones Center, located at 700 Congress Ave.
Despite its name, this event at Central Machine Works is not a fight club. Instead, it's a combination car show and concert! "Crusin' For a Brewsin'" will feature live music from Dale Watson and His Lone Stars, Darci Carlson and The Shanks, as well as hot rods from Austin Speed Shop and Tough Enuff.
The all-day party is free to attend.
When: Sunday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Central Machine Works, located at 4824 E. Cesar Chavez St.
Other events happening this weekend:
- Young the Giant with Milky Chance – Friday at Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- Gary Allan – Friday at Round Rock Amp
- Austin FC vs Juárez – Saturday at Q2 Stadium
- H-Town Throwdown 2023 – Saturday at Round Rock Amp
- Eric Church with Midland and Ray Wylie Hubbard – Saturday at Germania Insurance Amphitheater
- The Alamo Drafthouse Pop Culture Hype Quiz – Sunday at The Highball
- The Little Gay Goodbye Party – Sunday at The Little Gay Shop
- Austin Flea Pop-Up Market at Hi Sign – Sunday at Hi Sign Brewing | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/events/things-to-do-austin-weekend-stories-comfort-food-cruisin-for-a-brewsin/269-6d9fe512-ace0-4292-a660-a4da7d52929a | 2023-07-29T02:55:19 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/events/things-to-do-austin-weekend-stories-comfort-food-cruisin-for-a-brewsin/269-6d9fe512-ace0-4292-a660-a4da7d52929a |
INDIANAPOLIS — Discovery Channel has landed the perfect host this year for “Shark Week,” none other than a huge fan of all ocean creatures — Aquaman.
Jason Momoa, who in real life dreamed of a career as a marine biologist before Hollywood anointed him an ocean god, is going back to his roots to celebrate all things shark.
“My heart is in the ocean,” Momoa told The Associated Press from Tahiti, moments before taking a trip to swim with some of the apex predators. “Doing ‘Shark Week’ is a no-brainer.”
Momoa will be the week’s recurring master of ceremonies, dipping in and out of the channel's roughly 20 new hours of programs that start Sunday, July 23. Episode encores run most nights, too.
Viewers will get to see rare sharks off the coast of South Africa, examine deadly shark attacks off the posh beaches of Egypt’s Red Sea and investigate whether sharks in Florida waters are getting high on cocaine.
The week kicks off with a sort of nautical nod to “Jackass.” Researchers in the show “Belly of the Beast: Feeding Frenzy” try to reproduce a great white shark feeding frenzy by building a life-sized dead whale carcass decoy.
They put veteran “Shark Week” biologist Dr. Austin Gallagher and cameras inside the cavity — along with 200 pounds of chum and 50 gallons of blood — and hope it can make dozens of sharks go mad. Then they try it at night.
“There are a few moments during the show where I was pretty freaked out,” Gallagher told the AP. “There’s a healthy respect there, and I don’t want that ever to go away because I know what these animals are capable of.”
“Cocaine Sharks,” which premieres Wednesday, examines whether the occasional bricks of cocaine abandoned by drug smugglers effect shark behavior. ”I'm basically looking for something really weird and out of the ordinary," said the lead scientist, Tom Hird, in the program.
It shows a swarm of lemon sharks going a bit insane over floating bales of faux cocaine, and later, we see how fish powder mimics the dopamine response that cocaine might give to junkie sharks.
“Hopefully people enjoy the show as much as they enjoy the title,” Hird said.
Geeking out with viewers will be Momoa, who watched “Shark Week” growing up and says he couldn't wait to meet the scientists behind the programs.
“I’m going to be every other fan,” he said in an interview before the Hollywood strike. “This is my life’s passion.”
As always, there is a deep respect for the creatures and strong science beneath the amusing titles, dramatic music and eye-popping titles like “Great White Fight Club,” “Shark Vs. Snake” and “Serial Killer: Red Sea Attacks.”
“Alien Sharks” tries to find obscure species like the broadnose sevengill, which dates to the Jurassic Era, but is lately prized for their livers by orcas. There's also the deliciously named puffadder shyshark, which glow under UV light, and the white-spotted wedgefish, named appropriately for its shovel like appearance.
“For me, what’s so wonderful about alien sharks and this program is the opportunity to showcase the little guy,” said biologist Forrest Galante, who can be seen smooching a few of his sharks. “I get so excited and emotional when I’m working with these unique creatures that I do impulsively stupid things like kiss a shark before I say goodbye to it.”
Many of the programs investigate changes in the beasts' behavior that may have to do with climate change or overfishing, such as sharks appearing in unfamiliar locations. Conservation efforts have also started to boost their numbers, bringing them closer to humans.
“Sharks aren’t changing their behavior to target people or to be in close proximity to human beings. Humans are changing their behavior, growing at an alarming rate, spending more and more time in the water, having a hotter and hotter climate,” Galante said. “That leads to more interactions. And some of those interactions may be negative, but of course, the press blows that way out of proportion.”
Momoa, who studied marine and wildlife biology in college, taped his segments in New Zealand while in production on his upcoming Apple TV+ series "Chief of War."
Discovery’s “Shark Week” has a rival — its programming coincides with National Geographic’s “SharkFest,” which also has hours of sharky content over four weeks.
“Shark Week” was born as a counterpoint for those who developed a fear of sharks and a desire to eradicate them after seeing “Jaws.” It has emerged as a destination for scientists eager to protect an animal older than trees.
“'Jaws' really messed up a lot of people. They don’t get in the water for sure. But it’s just not the case,” said Momoa, who urged people to view sharks like they do in Tahiti.
“We call them the guardians. They’re just not looked upon as these things that are mean and scary that come to attack us. We live in harmony with them," Momoa said. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/jason-momoa-hosts-discoverys-shark-week-featuring-cocaine-sharks-high-attack-ocean/531-b4a954fb-f991-433f-8e94-b5cf2e6767b0 | 2023-07-29T02:55:22 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/jason-momoa-hosts-discoverys-shark-week-featuring-cocaine-sharks-high-attack-ocean/531-b4a954fb-f991-433f-8e94-b5cf2e6767b0 |
DALLAS —
Talk to Me
Before the Oscar-winning "Everything Everywhere All at Once," A24 was best known for its horror catalog. Add another this week with "Talk to Me."
Danny and Michael Philippou have been playing 'Spielberg' since they were kids. They kicked it up a decade ago... creating horror comedy shorts on YouTube. Their channel, 'Racka Racka' has racked up more than a billion views!
Talk about a built-in movie audience.
"Talk to Me" was co-written by Danny and directed by both. It's about a teen party game gone horribly wrong. One of the teens gets their hands on the embalmed hand of a psychic. Grab it, say "talk to me," and you connect with a dead person. There's a strict 90 second time limit, though, or who knows what could happen! They find out when one of them reaches a friend's late mother, and all hell breaks loose, literally.
The Philippous lost a million dollars in financing by casting an unknown actress in the lead, and Sophie Wilde was worth that risk. You can't take your eyes off of her. Truth be told, the trailer might be more terrifying than the film itself. But the film is entertaining and a solid start to a couple of talented, if not slightly unhinged, brothers.
(A24. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 34 mins. In Theaters Only)
Disney Haunted Mansion
"Pirates of the Caribbean" knocked it out of the park as far as Disney attractions made into films go. "Jungle Cruise" was cute. We already had one "Haunted Mansion" 20 years ago starring Eddie Murphy, and I'm not sure we needed another.
Director Justin Simien ("Dear White People") assembled a winning cast, that's for sure. Rosario Dawson plays a single mom who buys a New Orleans mansion to turn into a Bed & Breakfast. Yah, it needs a little work... like clearing out ghosts! She hires the very appealing LaKeith Stanfield, who knows how to capture ghosts on camera.
Soon, a medium played by Tiffany Haddish is a part of the mystery-solving squad, so is a historian (Danny DeVito) and Dallas's own Owen Wilson as the requisite priest. Jamie Lee Curtis is the psychic in the crystal ball (though she does escape at one point). And of course, Jared Leto has to make his grand entrance as the nasty ghost.
The problem with "Haunted Mansion" is the story is so hamstrung by the conventions of the Disney ride, it just can't break free. So, it's not that funny, not that scary... and just kinda 'meh.' It should have just gone straight to Disney+.
(Walt Disney Pictures. Rated PG-13. Running Time 2 hrs. 2 mins. In Theaters Only.)
Theater Camp
Okay, theater geeks, this one's for you! Broadway stars and real-life couple Ben Plat and Noah Galvin team with two others for a script just made for those of you who couldn't wait for theater camp to roll around each summer. This one in upstate New York is perfectly named 'AdirondACTS.'
When camp director Amy Sedaris falls into a coma and is unable to fulfill her duties, her hapless son (Jimmy Tatro) arrives to save the day, or so he thinks (cannabis gummies tend to get in the way).
Galvin and co-star Molly Gordon play the oh-so-serious acting coaches.
This is satire from the inside out from people who know it well. I wouldn't take my kids to it, but even if you didn't grow up hoping to be the next Broadway star with all those flourishes, you'll get a kick out of it. '...and a 5,6,7,8.'
(Searchlight Pictures. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 32 mins. In Theaters Only.)
The Beanie Bubble
In a film season of nostalgic inventions ("Tetris," "Blackberry" and yes, "Barbie") comes the behind-the-scenes story of the Beanie Babies craze. Zach Galifianakis plays Ty Warner (you know the 'Ty' label.) Elizabeth Banks leads the trio of the women behind the man's success.
This movie actually surprised me, but not in a good way. Warner is portrayed as a misogynist who gives no credit to the women (his creative partner, his personal partner and his tech/business wiz) and doesn't pay them what they're worth, except for a bonus to his girlfriend at the end.
Any nostalgic joy that might come from these pint-size plushes, it eradicated by what a jerk this man was. It makes you want to trash any collectibles you might have kept, or at least put them on eBay!
(Apple Original. Rated R. Running Time 1 hr. 50 mins. In Theaters and Streaming.) | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews-talk-to-me-disney-haunted-mansion-theater-camp-beanie-bubble/287-29a59abb-001b-461b-bbe0-18f8cc0a2226 | 2023-07-29T02:55:23 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/movies/movie-reviews-talk-to-me-disney-haunted-mansion-theater-camp-beanie-bubble/287-29a59abb-001b-461b-bbe0-18f8cc0a2226 |
As the summer sun graces our days, it's the perfect time to embrace the joy of grilling. Try this recipe for Grilled Shrimp with a tantalizing marinade, accompanied by a delightful Blistered Cherry Tomato & Corn Salad.
Marinade:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup herbs (basil, parsley, cilantro, etc.), finely chopped
- 3 tablespoons oil
- Zest and juice of 1 lime
- 1/2 tablespoon crushed red pepper
- Mix all the marinade ingredients together. You can prepare this marinade a day in advance.
Shrimp Skewers:
- Shrimp (desired quantity)
- Kebab skewers
- Soak kebab skewers for at least 2 hours in hot/warm water.
- Toss the shrimp with half of the marinade and let it sit for about 30 minutes or longer if desired.
- Skewer the shrimp with 2 skewers per kebab, one through the head side and one through the tail side, ensuring gaps for air circulation.
- Preheat the grill to high heat.
- Cook the skewers on high heat for about 2 minutes on each side or until the center of the shrimp becomes opaque going on translucent. Total cook time should not exceed 5 minutes, depending on the grill's power.
- While resting, brush the shrimp with the remaining marinade on both sides.
Blistered Cherry Tomato & Corn Salad:
- 6 ears corn, shucked
- 2 pints cherry tomatoes
- 1 poblano chile
- 3 limes, zested and juiced
- 1+ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon oil
- Pinch of ground cumin
- 2 tablespoons cilantro, finely chopped
- 1 avocado, small diced
- Preheat the grill to high. Use a grill basket for the cherry tomatoes.
- Grill the corn and poblano pepper on each side until they are just blistered.
- Grill the cherry tomatoes in the grill basket, shaking it often until some of the tomatoes start to pop. Remove from heat and place in a bowl.
- Remove the corn kernels from the cobs and add them to the bowl with the cherry tomatoes.
- Peel, deseed, and chop the poblano pepper, then add it to the corn and tomato mix.
- Mix the corn and tomatoes with the lime zest, lime juice, salt, oil, ground cumin, cilantro, and diced avocado. Season to taste. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/girlies-who-grill-shrimp/85-6bf66e24-8f78-4c82-b0b7-d923c01be28f | 2023-07-29T02:55:24 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/girlies-who-grill-shrimp/85-6bf66e24-8f78-4c82-b0b7-d923c01be28f |
HOUSTON — Scientists have woken up a 46,000-year-old roundworm.
They said the roundworm, which was of a previously unknown species, spent those tens of thousands of years deep in the Siberian permafrost. According to the Washington Post, once it was revived, researchers said it started having babies!
The findings of this roundworm were detailed Thursday in PLOS Genetics.
“It’s kind of super fascinating finally to suddenly see life, living animals crawling out of a piece of soil that been deep frozen for 46,000 years,” Dr. Philipp Schiffer from the University of Cologne told CBS News.
The Washington Post said the roundworms, also called nematodes, were brought back to life by warming the soil they were in.
The species is now known as Panagrolaimus kolymaensis. They're able to suspend metabolism, which is known as cryptobiosis.
Right now, scientists are focused on how the species adapted through that time. Schiffer said it could teach us about conservation biology and how, at a molecular level, species can adapt through changing climates.
You can read a whole lot more about these nematodes in the Washington Post. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/life/animals/roundworm-siberian-permafrost-wake-up/285-9496acf0-8843-40cc-afe4-ba01b4536f32 | 2023-07-29T02:55:25 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/life/animals/roundworm-siberian-permafrost-wake-up/285-9496acf0-8843-40cc-afe4-ba01b4536f32 |
INDIANAPOLIS — Whether or not pineapple belongs on pizza has long been a polarizing question. Now, Pepsi and Little Caesars are hoping customers can enjoy it in their drinks, too.
This summer, Pepsi and Little Caesars are giving pineapple lovers more ways to enjoy the pizza topping by bringing Pepsi Pineapple exclusively to the pizza chain.
Starting July 17, and for a limited time only, Little Caesars customers can get the Pineapple Pair-Up Combo, which includes a 16-ounce Pepsi Pineapple and a Large 2-Topping Thin Crust Pizza when purchased online for $9.99.
“There’s always a passionate discussion surrounding pineapple on pizza,” said Greg Hamilton, chief marketing officer for Little Caesars.
“Together with Pepsi, we’re satisfying ALL pineapple lovers, regardless of how they feel about it as a pizza topping. The Pineapple Pair-Up Combo gives our customers an exclusive opportunity to enjoy the tropical taste on their Thin Crust pizza, in their Pepsi or both," Hamilton said.
Pepsi Pineapple made its original debut in 2020 for a limited time. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/life/food/pepsi-unveils-exclusive-pineapple-flavor-little-caesars-pizza-usa/531-0f619afc-a6b5-40c9-a49c-2ab873c3018c | 2023-07-29T02:55:39 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/life/food/pepsi-unveils-exclusive-pineapple-flavor-little-caesars-pizza-usa/531-0f619afc-a6b5-40c9-a49c-2ab873c3018c |
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Mega Millions jackpot now stands at $940 million for Friday night's drawing.
Officials said this jackpot is the fifth largest in Mega Millions history and the eighth largest in U.S. history.
If won, the person could take home $940 million in annuity or $472.5 million in cash.
“Jackpots this large always bring a lot of fun and excitement,” said Mark Michalko, executive director of the N.C. Education Lottery. “Tonight’s jackpot is no exception with more than $900 million up for grabs. It would be great to see that big win here in North Carolina.”
Officials say, there have now been 28 straight drawings since the last Mega Millions jackpot win on April 18.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot are 1 in 302 million. A week ago, two tickets sold in North Carolina won $1 million in prizes in the drawing.
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Amazon Fire TV: Search for WFMY to find the free app to add to your account. You can also add the app directly to your Fire TV through your Amazon account. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/money/tonights-mega-millions-jackpot-jumps-to-940-million-biggest-jackpot-in-us-history/83-f8441ce0-3de9-4730-a93f-24343d50a83c | 2023-07-29T02:55:45 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/money/tonights-mega-millions-jackpot-jumps-to-940-million-biggest-jackpot-in-us-history/83-f8441ce0-3de9-4730-a93f-24343d50a83c |
BENTON, Ark — Many rumors and stories are floating around that a Buc-ee's could be coming to Central Arkansas.
The buzz comes after My Saline reported that the Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission approved the purchase of land near the Haskell exit off Interstate 30.
"The anticipated commercial purpose will be a travel center with an investment of around $60 million," a Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission member said during a meeting on Thursday.
No one we spoke with from the City of Benton was able to officially confirm the famed travel center in those plans for the land.
However, we can connect some dots, and you can draw your own conclusions.
The company that purchased the land is CSMS Management, LLC, based in Pearland, Texas, in the same location as a corporate Buc-ee's store.
CSMS Management, LLC, paid nearly $80,000 per acre for the land off Haskell and Interstate 30. The proposal shows that they'll create 250 new jobs, pay between $16-$18 an hour, have a 401(k) plan, insurance and nearly three weeks of PTO.
A quick search on Buc-ee's website shows they offer those same benefits.
When we called CSMS Management, LLC., a Buc-ee's employee answered. The address for this company is 11200 W Broadway in Pearland, an address the Buc-ee's website shows jobs for.
While we wait for official confirmation, one thing is clear. If this travel center is built, it'll mean a lot more than just beaver nuggets and brisket.
"It's better than killing two birds with one stone because we got a lot more than two birds," one Benton Advertising and Promotion Commission member said during Thursday's meeting. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/is-arkansas-getting-a-buc-ees/91-03aa1754-6c6f-44c0-a2a0-5fcddcee7b88 | 2023-07-29T02:55:51 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/is-arkansas-getting-a-buc-ees/91-03aa1754-6c6f-44c0-a2a0-5fcddcee7b88 |
HOUSTON — New Texas laws are aimed at cracking down on human trafficking by imposing a minimum 25-year sentence for those convicted.
Officials say they've seen an uptick in human traffickers targetting kids at schools, rehab centers and foster care.
We spoke with some women who wanted to share their difficult stories to bring awareness to this problem.
"I was trafficked at the age of 17," said Angela Williams.
Williams, now age 39, was going to high school in Houston when it happened.
"I wanted to be a marine biologist," she said.
But, her dreams were ripped away by a human trafficker. She said she was recruited by someone at her school.
"He sent another minor to come to approach me to come hang out," Williams said.
It's the same thing that happened to Courtney Litvak.
"People who were athletes and upperclassmen came to me," she said.
The two women say they were sexually exploited across the country for years until they managed to get away.
"I asked God to make a way for me to escape and he did," Litvak said. "I quite literally ran for my life."
New laws signed by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott increase the criminal penalty for human trafficking committed in colleges, universities, foster care and shelters.
"This will give us the ability to develop a stronger case and longer terms," said Saul Suarez with the Harris County Sheriff's Office Major Criminal Investigations division.
Prior to this new law, offenders could face anywhere from 5 to 99 years in prison. Now, the minimum has been raised to 25 years in prison.
"We are excited about using it," said Fort Bend County District Attorney Brian Middleton.
The bills go into effect on September 1 and also apply to online trafficking. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-human-trafficking-laws/285-973786ae-31a4-45b9-a25e-23328c8e54b8 | 2023-07-29T02:55:57 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-human-trafficking-laws/285-973786ae-31a4-45b9-a25e-23328c8e54b8 |
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday for the first time publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, a four-year-old girl fathered by his son Hunter with an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, in 2018.
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward," Biden said in a statement. It was his first acknowledgement of the child.
“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter,” he said. "Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
Hunter Biden's paternity was established by DNA testing after Roberts sued for child support, and the two parties recently resolved outstanding child support issues. The president's son wrote about his encounter with Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying it came while he was deep in addiction to alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine.
“I had no recollection of our encounter,” he wrote. “That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for.”
An attorney for Roberts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The president, who has made a commitment to family central to his public persona, has faced increasing criticism from political rivals and pundits for failing to acknowledge the granddaughter. According to a person familiar with the matter, he was taking the cue from his son while the legal proceedings played out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.
Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son, Beau, born by his wife Melissa Cohen in 2020. He was named after the president's late son who died of cancer in 2015, leaving behind two children.
Biden's grandchildren have played a distinctive role in his presidency, often accompanying the president or first lady on trips and making regular visits to the White House. The president has also credited his grandchildren with persuading him to challenge then-President Donald Trump for the White House in 2020.
Biden's statement was first reported by People Magazine. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-acknowledges-seventh-grandchild-hunters-daughter/507-ad6442fa-448f-4603-bb7e-17493e4449f0 | 2023-07-29T02:56:03 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-acknowledges-seventh-grandchild-hunters-daughter/507-ad6442fa-448f-4603-bb7e-17493e4449f0 |
WASHINGTON — Trader Joe's is recalling frozen falafel sold in more than 30 states because it may contain rocks.
It's the second time in a week that the grocery chain has announced a recall related to rocks in food. It comes one day after it issued a recall for a broccoli cheddar soup that may contain insects.
According to the retailer, it was alerted to the issue by the supplier of its Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Falafel.
The recall specifically includes the frozen falafel product sold in Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Carolina, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Anyone who purchased or received the Trader Joe's Fully Cooked Falafel (SKU#93935) is urged to throw it out or return it to any Trader Joe's for a full refund.
Last Friday, the grocery chain announced it was recalling two cookie products because they may contain rocks. That recall impacts Trader Joe’s Almond Windmill Cookies and Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Chunk and Almond Cookies with "sell by" dates ranging from October 17, 2023 to October 21, 2023. Lot codes for the recalled cookies and customer service contact information can be found on Trader Joe's website.
In a response to a request for comment, Trader Joe's said the close timing of the two situations was "coincidental."
"While there are aspects of our product supply chain beyond our direct control, we will never leave to chance the safety of the products we offer. In this case, there was a different issue in the each of the manufacturing processes," Public Relations Manager Nakia Rohde said. "We don’t take any chance when it comes to product safety and quality. We err on the side of caution and are proactive in addressing issues. We voluntarily take action quickly and aggressively—investigating potential problems and removing a product from sale if there is any doubt about its safety or quality."
On Thursday, Trader Joe's issued a recall on its "Unexpected Broccoli Cheddar Soup" after discovering it could potentially contain insects. More than 10,000 cases of the 20-ounce product are being recalled, according to the FDA report. The soups were distributed in Florida, California, Texas, Washington, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Illinois.
The Monrovia, California-based chain is privately held by the families that also own Aldi Nord, a German grocer. Trader Joe’s operates around 530 stores in the U.S.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/nation-world/trader-joes-recall-falafel-rocks/507-6cb7a5ef-7171-41e5-8bc2-a1625a329f31 | 2023-07-29T02:56:09 | 1 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/news/nation-world/trader-joes-recall-falafel-rocks/507-6cb7a5ef-7171-41e5-8bc2-a1625a329f31 |
HOUSTON — A former Astros pitcher is returning after Houston worked out a trade with the White Sox.
In the deal, Houston gets Kendall Gaveman, while sending minor league catcher Korey Lee to Chicago.
Graveman was 3-4 with eight saves and a 3.48 ERA this season in 45 appearances for the Sox this season.
It’s Graveman’s second stint with the Astros. He played with Houston for two months back in 2021 after he was picked up in a trade from Seattle. While with the Astros that year, he had a 3.13 ERA in 23 appearances and turned it up a notch in the postseason. During the playoffs, Graveman had a 1.64 ERA in 11 innings pitched. That includes three World Series appearances.
Graveman is a 9-year MLB veteran. He has a career 4.00 ERA as both a starter and reliever.
Lee was a first-round pick by the Astros in 2019 out of the University of California Berkeley. | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/sports/mlb/astros-white-sox-trade-kendall-graveman-korey-lee/285-2ec485a0-54c5-4300-9932-c68372cc7137 | 2023-07-29T02:56:16 | 0 | https://www.myfoxzone.com/article/sports/mlb/astros-white-sox-trade-kendall-graveman-korey-lee/285-2ec485a0-54c5-4300-9932-c68372cc7137 |
6-year-old girl dies after being hit by boat propeller at lake, authorities say
PEORIA, Ariz. (KPHO/Gray News) - Authorities in Arizona say a young girl has died after she was hit by a boat propeller at Lake Pleasant Friday morning.
The Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said first responders were called to the lake regarding a boat accident at about 11 a.m.
KPHO reports that a 6-year-old girl was pulled from the lake with a severe leg injury. She was rushed to a hospital but did not survive.
According to Sgt. Joaquin Enriquez, two families had arrived at the lake around 7 a.m. for swimming and wakeboarding. All 12 people, reported to be six adults and six children, were on the same boat.
Investigators said the child was injured when no one realized she was still in the water and her mother started to accelerate to pull another family member who was wakeboarding.
The young girl was then run over by the boat.
Because of poor cellphone service in that part of the lake, the family couldn’t reach emergency services.
Other boaters in the area helped get the child out of the water and brought her to the Pleasant Harbor Marina where fire crews were waiting.
Deputies don’t believe impairment was a factor in the accident.
Detectives are investigating and processing evidence, but Enriquez said the girl’s death is being treated as a tragic accident.
Authorities said there appeared to be no safety violations on the boat, which was equipped with proper life jackets, a fire extinguisher and other gear.
Enriquez also said the owners are experienced boat operators who live near the lake.
The families involved were not immediately identified.
Copyright 2023 KPHO via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/29/6-year-old-girl-dies-after-being-hit-by-boat-propeller-lake-authorities-say/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:06 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/29/6-year-old-girl-dies-after-being-hit-by-boat-propeller-lake-authorities-say/ |
‘Our hero is going home’: Police officer released from rehab 3.5 months after Ky. bank shooting
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) - After 109 days, Louisville Metro police officer Nickolas Wilt has been released from Frazier Rehabilitation Institute and is going home.
Wilt has been hospitalized, receiving medical care for the last three and a half months after the Old National Bank mass shooting on April 10. Wilt was critically injured when he was shot in the head after responding to the shooting that ultimately killed five people.
The victims were identified as Tommy Elliott, 63; Jim Tutt, 64; Josh Barrick, 40; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57.
Wilt was listed in critical condition for nearly a month. Officials with the University of Louisville Health said Wilt received multiple surgeries and underwent several procedures at University of Louisville Hospital and Jewish Hospital.
On May 10, one month after the shooting, Wilt was transferred to Frazier Rehabilitation Institute to begin neuro and physical rehabilitation after seeing an improvement in his condition. Over the course of the last three and a half months, doctors and family of Wilt have called his journey remarkable.
On Friday, Governor Andy Beshear shared a photo with Wilt ahead of his release.
“Kentucky, our prayers were heard. @LMPD Officer Nick Wilt is headed home with his family. Officer Wilt is a hero who ran toward danger to save the lives of several of my friends. I am forever grateful for him and his bravery. Let’s keep praying for him.”
Wilt was honored as he left the halls of Frazier Rehab. He was accompanied by family as well as some fellow officers.
After leaving the rehab facility, Wilt was driven to Southeast Christian Church on Blankenbaker Parkway where he was driven past a line of well-wishers. The van then headed for Oldham County where community members were invited to gather along Highway 53 in La Grange to greet Wilt.
LMPD shared their sentiment on their social media, honoring the heroic actions of Wilt.
“Resilience, strength, courage. Those are just a few words to describe Ofc. Nickolas Wilt. April 10th, innocent lives were lost. Ofc. Wilt, just 10 days on the job, answered the call to help stop an active shooter. Today, our hero is going home. He’s ready. #WiltsWarriors”
Louisville Metro Police Foundation has created a donation site to help pay for Wilt’s medical expenses.
To make a donation, click or tap here.
Copyright 2023 WAVE via Gray Media Group, Inc. All rights reserved. | https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/29/our-hero-is-going-home-police-officer-released-rehab-35-months-after-ky-bank-shooting/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:13 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/2023/07/29/our-hero-is-going-home-police-officer-released-rehab-35-months-after-ky-bank-shooting/ |
Campti man wanted for attempted first-degree murder turns himself in
NATCHITOCHES PARISH, La. (KALB) - Update: The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office has reported that Jamail Demond Stelly turned himself in. He was transported to the NPSO High Tech Crime Unit Office for an interview, then transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery. No bond has been set.
The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help while it searches for a Campti man wanted for attempted first-degree murder and armed robbery.
Jamail Demond Stelly, 19, has brown eyes and black hair. His last known address was on Bass Street in Campti. He is known to have ties to the Shreveport area.
Stelly is wanted in connection with an armed robbery and shooting on Burl Pickett Road in Campti on May 10. One person suffered life-threatening injuries but has improved and is recovering from gunshot wounds.
Stelly has been placed into the National Crime Information Center as a wanted person and is believed to be armed and dangerous. If you see him, do not approach him. Contact the NPSO at 352-6432, 357-7851 or your nearest law enforcement agency.
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Copyright 2023 KALB. All rights reserved. | https://www.kalb.com/2023/07/29/campti-man-wanted-attempted-first-degree-murder-turns-himself/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:15 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/2023/07/29/campti-man-wanted-attempted-first-degree-murder-turns-himself/ |
BEIJING, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chengdu Universiade officially kicked off Friday night in the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, known as the hometown of giant pandas and one of the most vibrant Chinese cities.
Ahead the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games, Chinese President Xi Jinping has engaged himself in a flurry of face-to-face high-level meetings with foreign leaders attending the ceremony over the past couple of days.
Behind the tight diplomatic schedule, Xi has highlighted the importance of solidarity, cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, three key messages shared by the visiting leaders of Indonesia, Guyana, Georgia, Mauritania and Burundi.
Solidarity
In a toast at a welcoming banquet on Friday noon, Xi said the Games, since its inception, has always been "a celebration of youth, solidarity, and friendship."
"We should promote solidarity through sports, build up positive energy across the international community, join hands to tackle global challenges such as climate change, food crisis and terrorism, and shape a better future through cooperation," he urged.
Solidarity, unity and togetherness were also one of the hot topics during the Chinese president's separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
During the meeting with the Burundian leader, for instance, Xi stressed the importance of solidarity between China and Africa in safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and the international fairness and justice.
Cooperation
During the meetings of the leaders, China and the five countries agreed to further cooperation, such as on trade, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.
In a meeting with Xi on Thursday, Widodo said Indonesia is willing to continue to enhance cooperation with China in areas including investment, marine fisheries, food security and healthcare. The leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents following the meeting.
China and Georgia will issue a joint statement and announce the establishment of strategic partnership during Garibashvili's historic visit. Xi hailed the remarkable achievements in cooperation in various fields between the two countries over the past 31 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, while the Georgian prime minister said the elevation of bilateral relations will bring more opportunities to his country.
On Friday, China and Mauritania also signed a cooperation plan on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance bilateral ties.
A community with a shared future for mankind
The term of building a community with a shared future for mankind was repeatedly highlighted during the leaders' meetings, with Indonesia, Guyana, Georgia, Mauritania and Burundi also expressing support for China-proposed initiatives.
While meeting with Xi on Friday afternoon, Ghazouani said Mauritania supports the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, saying that these initiatives are in line with the norms governing international relations that respect countries' independence and sovereignty and exchanges between different civilizations.
Addressing the welcoming banquet, Xi stressed the importance of deepening exchanges and mutual learning to promote harmony without uniformity in the spirit of inclusiveness and seeing different cultures with an attitude of mutual appreciation and mutual learning.
"The Chengdu Games should be an opportunity for us to champion the common values of humanity and write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind," said Xi.
In an interview with CGTN, Ali, the Guyanese president, said the Games goes beyond the competitions among the young athletes.
"They can share the experiences, they can share culture, [and] they can share who they are in building a stronger family of humanity," he said.
View original content:
SOURCE CGTN | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/cgtn-solidarity-vowed-xi-hosts-foreign-leaders-amid-chengdu-universiade/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:19 | 0 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/cgtn-solidarity-vowed-xi-hosts-foreign-leaders-amid-chengdu-universiade/ |
BEIJING, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chengdu Universiade officially kicked off Friday night in the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, known as the hometown of giant pandas and one of the most vibrant Chinese cities.
Ahead the opening ceremony of the 31st summer edition of the FISU World University Games, Chinese President Xi Jinping has engaged himself in a flurry of face-to-face high-level meetings with foreign leaders attending the ceremony over the past couple of days.
Behind the tight diplomatic schedule, Xi has highlighted the importance of solidarity, cooperation and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, three key messages shared by the visiting leaders of Indonesia, Guyana, Georgia, Mauritania and Burundi.
Solidarity
In a toast at a welcoming banquet on Friday noon, Xi said the Games, since its inception, has always been "a celebration of youth, solidarity, and friendship."
"We should promote solidarity through sports, build up positive energy across the international community, join hands to tackle global challenges such as climate change, food crisis and terrorism, and shape a better future through cooperation," he urged.
Solidarity, unity and togetherness were also one of the hot topics during the Chinese president's separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Guyanese President Irfaan Ali, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh Ghazouani and Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye.
During the meeting with the Burundian leader, for instance, Xi stressed the importance of solidarity between China and Africa in safeguarding the common interests of developing countries and the international fairness and justice.
Cooperation
During the meetings of the leaders, China and the five countries agreed to further cooperation, such as on trade, infrastructure and people-to-people exchanges.
In a meeting with Xi on Thursday, Widodo said Indonesia is willing to continue to enhance cooperation with China in areas including investment, marine fisheries, food security and healthcare. The leaders witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents following the meeting.
China and Georgia will issue a joint statement and announce the establishment of strategic partnership during Garibashvili's historic visit. Xi hailed the remarkable achievements in cooperation in various fields between the two countries over the past 31 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, while the Georgian prime minister said the elevation of bilateral relations will bring more opportunities to his country.
On Friday, China and Mauritania also signed a cooperation plan on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to enhance bilateral ties.
A community with a shared future for mankind
The term of building a community with a shared future for mankind was repeatedly highlighted during the leaders' meetings, with Indonesia, Guyana, Georgia, Mauritania and Burundi also expressing support for China-proposed initiatives.
While meeting with Xi on Friday afternoon, Ghazouani said Mauritania supports the BRI, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, saying that these initiatives are in line with the norms governing international relations that respect countries' independence and sovereignty and exchanges between different civilizations.
Addressing the welcoming banquet, Xi stressed the importance of deepening exchanges and mutual learning to promote harmony without uniformity in the spirit of inclusiveness and seeing different cultures with an attitude of mutual appreciation and mutual learning.
"The Chengdu Games should be an opportunity for us to champion the common values of humanity and write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind," said Xi.
In an interview with CGTN, Ali, the Guyanese president, said the Games goes beyond the competitions among the young athletes.
"They can share the experiences, they can share culture, [and] they can share who they are in building a stronger family of humanity," he said.
View original content:
SOURCE CGTN | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/cgtn-solidarity-vowed-xi-hosts-foreign-leaders-amid-chengdu-universiade/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:22 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/cgtn-solidarity-vowed-xi-hosts-foreign-leaders-amid-chengdu-universiade/ |
NEW YORK, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sooth, an industry-leading strategic marketing insights platform and consultancy, is excited to announce a dynamic partnership with Kestrel Consulting. This collaboration brings Sooth's founder, Ian Baer, and his innovative methodologies and expertise into Kestrel's broad network, promising to enrich Kestrel's client marketing and branding initiatives with fresh perspectives and deeper understanding.
Recognized for its patent-pending method that fuses data, AI, and human intellect, Sooth deciphers the intricacies of human decision-making, mapping emotional drivers and receptivity of diverse consumer and business audiences. Now part of Kestrel's network, Sooth's unique, sophisticated approach will bolster client marketing initiatives, offering a powerful toolset to unlock new avenues for connection, empathy, and understanding that is proven to increase customer lifetime value by four times or more.
As Kestrel's preferred provider of brand strategic services, Sooth will also accelerate its own growth by working on branding and marketing projects for clients and partners within the Kestrel network.
"Kestrel Consultants helps leadership teams, founders, entrepreneurs, and enterprises fly higher and achieve strategic outcomes through its exclusive partnership network of fractional executives and boutique business consultants," the company said in a statement. "We're proud to welcome Sooth into our exclusive partnership and referral network. We've admired Ian Baer's work for years, and his exceptional talent is a real complement to our network's other areas of expertise. We're excited to collaborate on new projects together."
This partnership represents a convergence of Sooth's methodologies and Kestrel's expansive network. By bringing together Sooth's unparalleled insights and Kestrel's team of skilled executives and consultants, they aim to empower Kestrel's clientele with deeper understanding and fresh perspectives, enabling them to achieve their marketing goals.
"Changes in consumer and business culture over the past several years have irrevocably changed how marketing works at an elemental level," said Ian Baer, Founder and Chief Soothsayer at Sooth. "With 90 percent of all decisions now determined by each person's unique emotional priorities, we're able to roadmap success for brands by unlocking an in-depth understanding of the factors that create connection between these brands and the customers they serve. Kestrel's model brings together complementary innovators to help companies elevate their game across a broad spectrum of business and marketing interdependencies. I could not be more excited to align with the talented leaders of Kestrel Consultants to bring clients high-impact business solutions at the speed and efficiency of modern commerce."
About Sooth
Sooth is an industry-leading strategic marketing insights platform and consultancy. Using a unique, patent-pending method that synergizes data, artificial intelligence, and human intellect, Sooth decodes the intricacies of consumer decision-making and maps the emotional motivators of diverse audiences with unparalleled precision. Sooth is committed to making marketing strategies more effective, intuitive, and emotionally engaging, empowering brands with the insights they need. www.SoothBeTold.com
About Kestrel Consultants
Kestrel Consultants helps leadership teams, founders, entrepreneurs, and enterprises fly higher and achieve strategic outcomes through its exclusive partnership network of fractional executives and boutique business consultants. Learn more at KestrelConsultants.com.
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SOURCE Sooth | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/ian-baer-brings-sooths-brand-strategy-mastery-kestrel-consultings-executive-network/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:26 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/ian-baer-brings-sooths-brand-strategy-mastery-kestrel-consultings-executive-network/ |
NEW YORK, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sooth, an industry-leading strategic marketing insights platform and consultancy, is excited to announce a dynamic partnership with Kestrel Consulting. This collaboration brings Sooth's founder, Ian Baer, and his innovative methodologies and expertise into Kestrel's broad network, promising to enrich Kestrel's client marketing and branding initiatives with fresh perspectives and deeper understanding.
Recognized for its patent-pending method that fuses data, AI, and human intellect, Sooth deciphers the intricacies of human decision-making, mapping emotional drivers and receptivity of diverse consumer and business audiences. Now part of Kestrel's network, Sooth's unique, sophisticated approach will bolster client marketing initiatives, offering a powerful toolset to unlock new avenues for connection, empathy, and understanding that is proven to increase customer lifetime value by four times or more.
As Kestrel's preferred provider of brand strategic services, Sooth will also accelerate its own growth by working on branding and marketing projects for clients and partners within the Kestrel network.
"Kestrel Consultants helps leadership teams, founders, entrepreneurs, and enterprises fly higher and achieve strategic outcomes through its exclusive partnership network of fractional executives and boutique business consultants," the company said in a statement. "We're proud to welcome Sooth into our exclusive partnership and referral network. We've admired Ian Baer's work for years, and his exceptional talent is a real complement to our network's other areas of expertise. We're excited to collaborate on new projects together."
This partnership represents a convergence of Sooth's methodologies and Kestrel's expansive network. By bringing together Sooth's unparalleled insights and Kestrel's team of skilled executives and consultants, they aim to empower Kestrel's clientele with deeper understanding and fresh perspectives, enabling them to achieve their marketing goals.
"Changes in consumer and business culture over the past several years have irrevocably changed how marketing works at an elemental level," said Ian Baer, Founder and Chief Soothsayer at Sooth. "With 90 percent of all decisions now determined by each person's unique emotional priorities, we're able to roadmap success for brands by unlocking an in-depth understanding of the factors that create connection between these brands and the customers they serve. Kestrel's model brings together complementary innovators to help companies elevate their game across a broad spectrum of business and marketing interdependencies. I could not be more excited to align with the talented leaders of Kestrel Consultants to bring clients high-impact business solutions at the speed and efficiency of modern commerce."
About Sooth
Sooth is an industry-leading strategic marketing insights platform and consultancy. Using a unique, patent-pending method that synergizes data, artificial intelligence, and human intellect, Sooth decodes the intricacies of consumer decision-making and maps the emotional motivators of diverse audiences with unparalleled precision. Sooth is committed to making marketing strategies more effective, intuitive, and emotionally engaging, empowering brands with the insights they need. www.SoothBeTold.com
About Kestrel Consultants
Kestrel Consultants helps leadership teams, founders, entrepreneurs, and enterprises fly higher and achieve strategic outcomes through its exclusive partnership network of fractional executives and boutique business consultants. Learn more at KestrelConsultants.com.
View original content to download multimedia:
SOURCE Sooth | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/ian-baer-brings-sooths-brand-strategy-mastery-kestrel-consultings-executive-network/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:28 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/ian-baer-brings-sooths-brand-strategy-mastery-kestrel-consultings-executive-network/ |
BEIJING, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company"), a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China, today announced that it received a written notification from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") dated July 28, 2023, indicating that the Company no longer meets the continued listing requirement of minimum Market Value of Publicly Held Shares ("MVPHS") for the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C), because the Company's MVPHS for the last 30 consecutive business days was below the minimum MVPHS requirement of US$15,000,000.
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period to regain compliance is 180 calendar days, or until January 24, 2024. The Company can cure this deficiency if its MVPHS closes at US$15,000,000 or more for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the compliance period. The Company's management is looking into various options available to regain compliance and maintain its continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. In the event the Company does not regain compliance prior to the expiration of the compliance period, it will receive written notification that its securities are subject to delisting. Alternatively, the Company may apply to transfer the Company's securities to The Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to the Nasdaq Capital Market's continued listing requirements.
About Tarena International, Inc.
Tarena is a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Tarena also offers IT-focused supplementary STEAM education programs, including computer coding and robotics programming courses, etc., targeting students between three and eighteen years of age. Aiming to encourage "code to learn," Tarena embraces the latest trends in STEAM education and technology to develop children's logical thinking and learning abilities while allowing them to discover their interests and potential.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including any business outlook and statements about Tarena's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak; Tarena's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans.
Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contact
Tarena International, Inc.
Email: ir@tedu.cn
View original content:
SOURCE Tarena International, Inc. | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/tarena-announces-receipt-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-market-value-publicly-held-shares/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:32 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/tarena-announces-receipt-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-market-value-publicly-held-shares/ |
DESOTO COUNTY, Fla. — An Arcadia man was arrested after he assaulted a woman and tried to run her over a day later during a dispute.
On Tuesday, DeSoto County deputies responded to an incident on South Spring Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. At the intersection a woman identified as Whitney Hairston told deputies she had called 911 after she was hit and choked by her child’s father, Robert Childs, the night before.
According to the DeSoto County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO), Hairston told deputies she was walking south on S Spring Avenue when she heard a car approaching from behind. She noticed the driver was Childs. He began yelling at Hairston to give him his phone. When she replied that she did not have it, Childs became infuriated and accelerated his vehicle toward her — nearly running her over.
After Hairston quickly dialed 911, Childs slammed on his brakes, got out of his vehicle and chased her down the road. When Childs heard Hairston on the phone with 911, he ran back to his vehicle and left the scene.
Hairston told deputies Childs was upset that she had pressed charges for the battery.
Childs was arrested and faces charges of burglary with assault or battery and aggravated assault. He was taken to the DeSoto County Jail. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/arcadia-man-arrested-after-assaulting-woman-trying-to-run-her-over-during-dispute/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:34 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/arcadia-man-arrested-after-assaulting-woman-trying-to-run-her-over-during-dispute/ |
BEIJING, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Tarena International, Inc. (NASDAQ: TEDU) ("Tarena" or the "Company"), a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China, today announced that it received a written notification from the Staff of the Listing Qualifications Department of the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") dated July 28, 2023, indicating that the Company no longer meets the continued listing requirement of minimum Market Value of Publicly Held Shares ("MVPHS") for the Nasdaq Global Select Market, as set forth in the Nasdaq Listing Rule 5450(b)(2)(C), because the Company's MVPHS for the last 30 consecutive business days was below the minimum MVPHS requirement of US$15,000,000.
Pursuant to the Nasdaq Listing Rules, the applicable grace period to regain compliance is 180 calendar days, or until January 24, 2024. The Company can cure this deficiency if its MVPHS closes at US$15,000,000 or more for a minimum of ten consecutive business days during the compliance period. The Company's management is looking into various options available to regain compliance and maintain its continued listing on The Nasdaq Global Select Market. In the event the Company does not regain compliance prior to the expiration of the compliance period, it will receive written notification that its securities are subject to delisting. Alternatively, the Company may apply to transfer the Company's securities to The Nasdaq Capital Market, subject to the Nasdaq Capital Market's continued listing requirements.
About Tarena International, Inc.
Tarena is a leading provider of IT professional education and IT-focused supplementary STEAM education services in China. Through its innovative education platform combining live distance instruction, classroom-based tutoring and online learning modules, Tarena offers professional education courses in IT and non-IT subjects. Its professional education courses provide students with practical skills to prepare them for jobs in industries with significant growth potential and strong hiring demand. Tarena also offers IT-focused supplementary STEAM education programs, including computer coding and robotics programming courses, etc., targeting students between three and eighteen years of age. Aiming to encourage "code to learn," Tarena embraces the latest trends in STEAM education and technology to develop children's logical thinking and learning abilities while allowing them to discover their interests and potential.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements made under the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates," "confident" and similar statements. Tarena may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual report to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Any statements that are not historical facts, including any business outlook and statements about Tarena's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Many factors, risks and uncertainties could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, but not limited to the following: the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak; Tarena's goals and strategies; its future business development, financial condition and results of operations; its ability to continue to attract students to enroll in its courses; its ability to continue to recruit, train and retain qualified instructors and teaching assistants; its ability to continually tailor its curriculum to market demand and enhance its courses to adequately and promptly respond to developments in the professional job market; its ability to maintain or enhance its brand recognition, its ability to maintain high job placement rate for its students, and its ability to maintain cooperative relationships with financing service providers for student loans.
Further information regarding these and other risks, uncertainties or factors is included in Tarena's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All information provided in this press release is current as of the date of the press release, and Tarena does not undertake any obligation to update such information, except as required under applicable law.
For further information, please contact:
Investor Relations Contact
Tarena International, Inc.
Email: ir@tedu.cn
View original content:
SOURCE Tarena International, Inc. | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/tarena-announces-receipt-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-market-value-publicly-held-shares/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:35 | 1 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/tarena-announces-receipt-nasdaq-notification-regarding-minimum-market-value-publicly-held-shares/ |
LONDON, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a leading innovator in the vaping industry, has received well-deserved recognition at this year's London Design Awards, with four of its groundbreaking products being awarded for their exceptional design. The London Design Awards is an international competition that recognises exceptional designs and outstanding creative projects worldwide, celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the international design community.
The four distinguished products from VAPORESSO - the COSS, ECO NANO, LUXE XR, and XROS 3 NANO - have showcased the brand's formidable innovative prowess and have also been recognized with awards from many organizations. VAPORESSO's latest groundbreaking offering, the VAPORESSO COSS, is regarded as a game-changer in the vaping industry. It tackles existing issues with a thoughtful design that seamlessly caters to user habits. Its slogan, 'Convenient Operating, Smart Supplying', perfectly encapsulates the product's core values of INNOVATION, RELIABILITY, and STYLE.
"Winning these awards is a testament to the creativity, skill, and dedication of our team," said Jimmy Hu, Vice President of VAPORESSO, "We are thrilled to have our efforts recognised on such a prestigious global platform. It validates our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality products that enhance the vaping experience for our customers."
The London Design Awards, held annually, applauds outstanding design achievements across various creative sectors. It acknowledges exemplary projects, products, and professionals who demonstrate innovation, creativity, and excellence within their respective industries. Meanwhile, the London Design Awards not only honours design excellence but also fosters creativity, encourages innovation, and facilitates collaborations between designers and design-driven businesses. The awards have grown in stature and popularity since their inception, attracting a wide range of participants from various design fields.
The recognition from the London Design Awards underscores VAPORESSO's dedication to creating products that exceed customer expectations and further solidifies its position as a thought leader in the industry. It also acts as an external validation of VAPORESSO's capabilities and quality of work, building trust and confidence among potential customers.
About VAPORESSO
Established in 2015, VAPORESSO is committed to creating a smoke-free world and enhancing the quality of life for its users. Through continuous innovation, stringent quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO produces products that cater to all levels and styles of vapers.
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SOURCE VAPORESSO | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/vaporesso-wins-big-london-design-awards-2023-with-four-innovative-vaping-products/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:39 | 1 | https://www.wagmtv.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/vaporesso-wins-big-london-design-awards-2023-with-four-innovative-vaping-products/ |
New York (CNN) — When McDonald’s introduced a limited-edition purple shake in honor of Grimace’s birthday, it probably didn’t expect the item to go viral on TikTok quite like it did: With TikTokers showing themselves sipping the dessert drink and then, soon after, writhing in mock pain or playing dead.
But the mini horror films inspired people to buy shakes (if only to make more videos). And thanks to Grimace’s grim influence, sales in the second quarter spiked.
“This quarter, the theme is — well, if I’m being honest, the theme was Grimace,” said CEO Chris Kempczinski during an analyst call Thursday. “Grimace has been everywhere in the past few months … this viral phenomenon is yet another proof point of the power of marketing at McDonald’s today.”
Kempczinski added that the brand’s marketing efforts have led to higher food quality scores. “The more customers love our brand, the more they love our food,” he said.
In the United States, sales at McDonald’s locations open for at least 13 months jumped 10.3% in the quarter ending on June 30. Grimace’s birthday, and the kickoff date for the special meal and shake McDonald’s offered to celebrate, was on June 12. Globally, sales at restaurants open at least a year jumped 11.7%, thanks largely to growth in China, the company noted. Total sales rose 14% in the quarter.
In a statement discussing its second-quarter results, McDonald’ said that growth in the US could be attributed to “culturally relevant brand and marketing campaigns,” along with menu price increases as well as growth in delivery, among other things.
Grimace’s birthday “quickly became one of our most socially engaging campaigns of all time,” said CFO Ian Borden during the call, referring to it as “a true demonstration of how the power of our brand emerges in organic and creative ways in our fans.”
The campaign “contributed to the strong double-digit comparable sales growth for the quarter in the US,” he said.
When McDonald’s introduced the special products for Grimace in early June, it wasn’t all about the shake. The Grimace Birthday Meal also came with McNuggets or a Big Mac and fries. And as part of the celebration McDonald’s also launched a video game and Grimace merchandise.
“Grimace’s Birthday is all about paying homage to the amazing, fun moments we all share,” Tariq Hassan, chief marketing and customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA, said in a statement about the occasion. “Grimace is the perfect lovable icon to have McDonald’s meet our fans at the intersection of nostalgia and culture.”
But in TikTok videos where people wish Grimace a happy birthday before sampling the shake, Grimace is not presented as a lovable icon. He seems more like a vengeful monster, a murderous … whatever Grimace is.
McDonald’s acknowledged the situation, in late June tweeting an image of Grimace and writing “meee pretending i don’t see the grimace shake trendd,” and later, when it was time for Grimace to return to Grimace Island, tweeted “u made me feel so specialll ty.”
The fast food chain is particularly adept at launching promotions that resonate with customers. McDonald’s Cactus Plant Flea Market Box, aka the adult Happy Meal, performed so well in October that it lifted restaurant traffic in fast food overall, taking it from negative to positive, according to data from Placer.ai, which uses location data from mobile devices to estimate visits.
New restaurant concept coming
As it looks ahead, McDonald’s is planning new types of locations.
Next year, McDonald’s plans to start testing a new concept called “CosMc’s” in a handful of locations. “CosMcs is a small format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s but its own unique personality,” Kempczinski said, adding that McDonald’s will share more details during its investor day at the end of this year.
CosMc, like Grimace, is a McDonald’s character. He is an alien.
Looking at its presence in the US more broadly, “our footprint reflects what the population looks like probably 20 or 30 years ago,” said Kempczinski. “There’s a number of places around the US where we are significantly underdeveloped relative to where the population exists today. That opens up for us a whole bunch of development opportunities for us to go after.”
As part of that, McDonald’s is looking at opening smaller format stores, ones that don’t need much space for on-premise dining, now that delivery is so popular. In the past, those options were essentially “off limits,” he said.
The plan comes at a time when consumers are nervous about spending.
“There is certainly concern with the US consumer that shows up in their sentiment, ” Kempczinski said during the call. But, he added, McDonald’s is still in a good spot.
“But our business, and particularly I think our value positioning in the market, has put us into a good position to be able to weather that.” The company has seen evidence of people trading down from full-service or fast casual restaurants into McDonald’s business, he said.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/grimace-shakes-help-send-mcdonalds-sales-surging/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:41 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/grimace-shakes-help-send-mcdonalds-sales-surging/ |
LONDON, July 28, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAPORESSO, a leading innovator in the vaping industry, has received well-deserved recognition at this year's London Design Awards, with four of its groundbreaking products being awarded for their exceptional design. The London Design Awards is an international competition that recognises exceptional designs and outstanding creative projects worldwide, celebrating the vibrancy and diversity of the international design community.
The four distinguished products from VAPORESSO - the COSS, ECO NANO, LUXE XR, and XROS 3 NANO - have showcased the brand's formidable innovative prowess and have also been recognized with awards from many organizations. VAPORESSO's latest groundbreaking offering, the VAPORESSO COSS, is regarded as a game-changer in the vaping industry. It tackles existing issues with a thoughtful design that seamlessly caters to user habits. Its slogan, 'Convenient Operating, Smart Supplying', perfectly encapsulates the product's core values of INNOVATION, RELIABILITY, and STYLE.
"Winning these awards is a testament to the creativity, skill, and dedication of our team," said Jimmy Hu, Vice President of VAPORESSO, "We are thrilled to have our efforts recognised on such a prestigious global platform. It validates our commitment to delivering innovative, high-quality products that enhance the vaping experience for our customers."
The London Design Awards, held annually, applauds outstanding design achievements across various creative sectors. It acknowledges exemplary projects, products, and professionals who demonstrate innovation, creativity, and excellence within their respective industries. Meanwhile, the London Design Awards not only honours design excellence but also fosters creativity, encourages innovation, and facilitates collaborations between designers and design-driven businesses. The awards have grown in stature and popularity since their inception, attracting a wide range of participants from various design fields.
The recognition from the London Design Awards underscores VAPORESSO's dedication to creating products that exceed customer expectations and further solidifies its position as a thought leader in the industry. It also acts as an external validation of VAPORESSO's capabilities and quality of work, building trust and confidence among potential customers.
About VAPORESSO
Established in 2015, VAPORESSO is committed to creating a smoke-free world and enhancing the quality of life for its users. Through continuous innovation, stringent quality control, and substantial commitment, VAPORESSO produces products that cater to all levels and styles of vapers.
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SOURCE VAPORESSO | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/vaporesso-wins-big-london-design-awards-2023-with-four-innovative-vaping-products/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:41 | 0 | https://www.kalb.com/prnewswire/2023/07/29/vaporesso-wins-big-london-design-awards-2023-with-four-innovative-vaping-products/ |
HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A 30-year-old cold case is solved after a suspect is charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl from Pasco County.
The young girl, Jennifer Odom, disappeared after getting off the school bus in 1993.
According to Hernando County Sheriff’s Office, Jennifer’s friends saw a blue truck following her on her walk home on February 19, 1993.
Jennifer’s body was found six days later, missing all her clothes, in an abandoned orange grove.
Metal scrappers found the young girl’s backpack and clarinet case two years later.
The Sheriff’s Office says more than 75,000 pieces of evidence were tested using CODIS DNA, a development not yet available at the time of the initial investigation.
On Thursday, July 27, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis announced Jeffrey Crum had been charged with Jennifer’s murder.
Detectives found a similar case in 2015 where another young girl was left for dead after being sexually assaulted walking home from her school bus.
Sheriff Niehuis says the evidence from 2015 and the evidence from Jennifer’s case came back as a match.
“The MOs in both cases were almost identical except for Jennifer, as you know, was abducted and found six days later,” Nienhuis said. Crum quickly became our primary suspect in the Jennifer Odom case.”
After a nearly 30-year investigation, Nienhuis said the facts were returned to the state attorney’s office.
Now, on top of his two life sentences for the case in 2015, Crum is facing charges of first-degree murder of Jennifer Odom, kidnapping and sexual battery. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/hernando-county-man-charged-with-murder-of-young-girl-in-30-year-old-cold-case/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:47 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/hernando-county-man-charged-with-murder-of-young-girl-in-30-year-old-cold-case/ |
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Just one day after someone fired a bullet into the home of North Fort Myers Republican State Representative Spencer Roach, his office staff discovered an unnerving phone recording left at his office.
The male caller, using a slow and steady voice, calmly begins the conversation by telling Roach he is giggling and unconcerned about a bullet fired into his home just a day earlier.
“Hey, Spencer, I’m giggling and unconcerned about any weapons being used at your residence. This is the hate that mother f****** like you started…if it envelopes and destroys you, we’re happy. Praying your demise is slow, painful, lonely, impoverishing, and even more fattening. I would rather see you die of type 2 diabetes,” the message eerily ends with the man giggling.
Spencer Roach said his first reaction to hearing the message was that it may be connected with the shot fired into his home a day earlier. He quickly turned it over to the Lee County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for investigation.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: State Representative’s home in North Fort Myers declared crime scene
LCSO confirmed for NBC2 that they have a person of interest in the case.
After the recording device picked up the 575 area code number in which the call was placed seemingly from New Mexico.
NBC2 tried calling the number, but the call went to voicemail, and no return call has been made to answer our questions.
“I have a staff that I employ in my legislative office. Understandably, they are concerned about this threat, and we are now locking the office door and seeing our constituents by appointment only,” Roach explained.
Taxpayers like Danica Murry, who listened to the recording, said she is not surprised someone left it.
“It’s become more accepted to say things that are atrocious. No matter who they’re being said to,” Murry stated.
However, she admits the call is unnerving.
“I’d be quite terrified. I’m sure anyone would,” she said.
But is the call left for Roach considered a threat against an election official? FGCU professor of forensic studies Dr. David Thomas said no after listening to it.
“At best, it would be what is considered harassing phone calls in the State of Florida,” explained Dr. Thomas.
He said the anonymous caller doesn’t go far enough.
“As you go through it, he just tells the state representative he wants him to die a slow death,” Dr. Thomas noted.
Roach said he does have a concealed carry weapons permit, and while he said he rarely carries weapons, the former Coast Guard veteran said he is more vigilant about carrying now until whoever fired this shot through his home is caught.
Nearly a year and a half ago, someone accidentally fired a bullet into Roach’s district office. It was later determined to have happened during a nearby gun training course taking place.
PREVIOUS STORY: Bullet flies into North Fort Myers office of Rep. Roach during a firearms class | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/lcso-investigating-voicemail-threatening-state-representative-spencer-roach/ | 2023-07-29T02:57:54 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/lcso-investigating-voicemail-threatening-state-representative-spencer-roach/ |
BREMERTON, Wash. — They call it 'The Washington Waterfall.'
Six-year-old Rocky Cammarata of Bremerton is the owner of this magnificent mullet.
And he's not the only one in this family with 'business in the front and a party in the back.'
It all started when his dad, a fire fighter, couldn't get a haircut because of COVID:
"A group of people from the fire department decided to lean into it and grow some mullets and Rocky wasn't in school at the time so he decided to grow one with me and once we saw how magnificent his hair was, he wouldn't let us cut it," said Benny Cammarata, Rocky's dad.
The mullets just kept growing...
"I have been promised multiple times that the mullets would be cut for both of them," said Christy Cammarata, Rocky's mom and Benny's wife.
And growing...
"Then I was promised that it wouldn't be in the pictures for kindergarten, maybe we'll get a cut before pictures. It was still there," Christy said.
With great hair comes great responsibility. Rocky just made round two in the kid's division of the USA Mullet Championship - a contest that raises funds to build homes for wounded warriors.
And that's made him something of a local celebrity.
"Oh, it's been entertaining, we walk a lot of places down here and is not uncommon at all for people to slow down their cars, roll down their windows and just tell Rocky how amazing his hair is," Benny said.
Rocky's non-mulleted siblings are taking it all in stride.
"People are coming up to him going 'Hey, are you the guy from Facebook?' and he just answers with 'Yes, that's me,'" said sister Sunny.
Brother Enzo confided that Rocky will not do a mullet shake for them, but he will do it for strangers. Given all the attention, mullets might be here to stay for this family.
Rocky doesn't want to lose those locks. And dad made a promise about his:
"Oh, I'll leave it as long as Rocky wants me to," Benny said.
And really - life's too short for boring hair.
"You need confidence to pull it off which he definitely has and it's a hairstyle that lets people know from a distance that you're probably a lot of fun," Benny said.
Vote now for Rocky Cammarata - The Washington Watefall at the USA Mullet Championship website, voting closes after July 24th. But the mullet may be around much longer!
KING 5's Evening celebrates the Northwest. Contact us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Email. | https://www.fox43.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/bremerton-6-year-old-mullet-advances-in-national-competition-rocky-cammarata/281-0a93de5c-fc8b-404d-9496-1176a1b21c81 | 2023-07-29T02:58:00 | 1 | https://www.fox43.com/article/entertainment/television/programs/bremerton-6-year-old-mullet-advances-in-national-competition-rocky-cammarata/281-0a93de5c-fc8b-404d-9496-1176a1b21c81 |
Bear takes dip in Burbank swimming pool amid LA heatwave
BURBANK, Calif. - Hot bear summer is apparently in full effect in Los Angeles County.
The Burbank Police Department responded to a call of a bear in a swimming pool Friday. Props to the Burbank PD staffer for taking a scenic video as the bear is seen lounging and taking brief glances of the city's beautiful hillside.
It is unknown if the furry intruder asked Burbank PD to Airdrop the flattering videos to their phone.
On a much more serious note, Burbank PD shared several tips on what the community should do if they encounter bears.
In a flyer below, police are warning the public to never feed the furry animals and keep dogs leashed: | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/bear-takes-dip-in-burbank-swimming-pool-amid-la-heatwave | 2023-07-29T02:58:00 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/bear-takes-dip-in-burbank-swimming-pool-amid-la-heatwave |
CAPE CORAL, Fla. — A Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputy has been arrested for DUI in Cape Coral.
Police arrested Deputy Roberto Fabela, a bailiff in court operations, on July 25th.
Sheriff Carmine Marceno said the deputy’s car was found in a ditch on Pine Island Road, where the officer gave Fabela a sobriety test.
The Lee County deputy was taken to a local hospital to be cleared and later booked in the county jail.
Deputy Fabela has been with the Sheriff’s Office for 19 years with no prior infractions.
Sheriff Marceno says they will do an internal investigation before deciding the next steps. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/lee-county-deputy-arrested-for-dui/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:00 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/lee-county-deputy-arrested-for-dui/ |
Hunter Biden's daughter, Navy, publicly acknowledged by president for 1st time
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Friday for the first time publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, a four-year-old girl fathered by his son Hunter with an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, in 2018.
"Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward," Biden said in a statement. It was his first acknowledgement of the child.
"This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter," he said. "Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy."
Hunter Biden's paternity was established by DNA testing after Roberts sued for child support, and the two parties recently resolved outstanding child support issues. The president's son wrote about his encounter with Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying it came while he was deep in addiction to alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine.
"I had no recollection of our encounter," he wrote. "That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for."
An attorney for Roberts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
FILE - Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden, arrives at Fort Lesley J. McNair in Washington, DC, US, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. (Ting Shen/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The president, who has made a commitment to family central to his public persona, has faced increasing criticism from political rivals and pundits for failing to acknowledge the granddaughter. According to a person familiar with the matter, he was taking the cue from his son while the legal proceedings played out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.
Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son, Beau, born by his wife Melissa Cohen in 2020. He was named after the president's late son who died of cancer in 2015, leaving behind two children.
Biden's grandchildren have played a distinctive role in his presidency, often accompanying the president or first lady on trips and making regular visits to the White House. The president has also credited his grandchildren with persuading him to challenge then-President Donald Trump for the White House in 2020.
Biden's statement was first reported by People Magazine. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/hunter-bidens-daughter-navy-publicly-acknowledged-by-president-for-1st-time | 2023-07-29T02:58:06 | 0 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/hunter-bidens-daughter-navy-publicly-acknowledged-by-president-for-1st-time |
HOUSTON — Scientists have woken up a 46,000-year-old roundworm.
They said the roundworm, which was of a previously unknown species, spent those tens of thousands of years deep in the Siberian permafrost. According to the Washington Post, once it was revived, researchers said it started having babies!
The findings of this roundworm were detailed Thursday in PLOS Genetics.
“It’s kind of super fascinating finally to suddenly see life, living animals crawling out of a piece of soil that been deep frozen for 46,000 years,” Dr. Philipp Schiffer from the University of Cologne told CBS News.
The Washington Post said the roundworms, also called nematodes, were brought back to life by warming the soil they were in.
The species is now known as Panagrolaimus kolymaensis. They're able to suspend metabolism, which is known as cryptobiosis.
Right now, scientists are focused on how the species adapted through that time. Schiffer said it could teach us about conservation biology and how, at a molecular level, species can adapt through changing climates.
You can read a whole lot more about these nematodes in the Washington Post. | https://www.fox43.com/article/life/animals/roundworm-siberian-permafrost-wake-up/285-9496acf0-8843-40cc-afe4-ba01b4536f32 | 2023-07-29T02:58:06 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/life/animals/roundworm-siberian-permafrost-wake-up/285-9496acf0-8843-40cc-afe4-ba01b4536f32 |
LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. – An owl was rescued by the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) after going for a swim in a Lehigh Acres pool.
According to a Facebook post from CROW, the young Barred owl had multiple injuries on its right wing and bruising on its left.
Radiographs showed that the owl had soft tissue trauma.
CROW says the owl is taking pain medicine and antibiotics. Its bandages are also being changed to manage its wounds.
The owl has been showing positive signs of improvement and has begun eating on its own. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/owl-rescued-from-lehigh-acres-pool/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:06 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/owl-rescued-from-lehigh-acres-pool/ |
HANOVER, Pa. — From Hanover to Hollywood, a York County woman is capturing the attention of moviegoers nationwide. In the newly released movie "Barbie," Hanover native Ann Roth is featured in a scene with the movie's lead actress, Margot Robbie.
“It’s great to see a local woman get to be that close and be part of something so inspiring," said Adrian Walker, a Hanover resident.
Roth's big screen appearance is just one of a long list of accomplishments through her career. She started her career in Hollywood in 1957, working as a costume designer in countless movies and TV shows.
She has won two Academy Awards for Best Costume Design in 1997 and 2020. At 91 years old, Roth is the oldest person to ever win an Academy Award for costume design. She also won a Tony Award for Best Costume Design of a Play in 2013.
Her accomplishments are commemorated on a plaque in the Hanover Area Museum.
"She is the American success story," said Sandra Spinnichia, a member of the Hanover Area Historical Society. "Since the movie has come out, it's been on Facebook and everything, so we've gotten a lot of inquiries about her."
Local moviegoers believe Roth’s impact on Hollywood will help inspire others in York County.
“It shows that, even in small towns, there are fabulous artists," said Laurie Pittman, a Hanover resident. “It shows how important art is for a community and that it reaches all walks of life.”
The costume design legend is helping bring even more attention to the box office draw.
“Everything I’m hearing about the Barbie movie, I need to see it," said Walker. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/from-hanover-to-hollywood-one-york-county-woman-is-making-waves-in-the-new-barbie-movie-york-county/521-e33872da-8dde-40f7-bdda-439dee140a39 | 2023-07-29T02:58:12 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/from-hanover-to-hollywood-one-york-county-woman-is-making-waves-in-the-new-barbie-movie-york-county/521-e33872da-8dde-40f7-bdda-439dee140a39 |
US to send Taiwan $345 million military aid package
WASHINGTON - The U.S. on Friday announced $345 million in military aid for Taiwan, in what is the Biden administration's first major package drawing on America's own stockpiles to help Taiwan counter China.
The White House's announcement said the package would include defense, education and training for the Taiwanese. Washington will send man-portable air defense systems, or MANPADS, intelligence and surveillance capabilities, firearms and missiles, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters ahead of the announcement.
U.S. lawmakers have been pressuring the Pentagon and White House to speed weapons to Taiwan. The goals are to help it counter China and to deter China from considering attacking, by providing Taipei enough weaponry that it would make the price of invasion too high.
While Chinese diplomats protested the move, Taiwan's trade office in Washington said the U.S. decision to pull arms and other materiel from its stores provided "an important tool to support Taiwan's self-defense." In a statement, it pledged to work with the United States to maintain "peace, stability and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait."
FILE - Armed vehicles launch smoke during the annual Han Guang anti-landing drill at Bali beach, New Taipei City on July 27, 2023. (Sam Yeh / AFP) (Photo by SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
The package is in addition to nearly $19 billion in military sales of F-16s and other major weapons systems that the U.S. has approved for Taiwan. Delivery of those weapons has been hampered by supply chain issues that started during the COVID-19 pandemic and have been exacerbated by the global defense industrial base pressures created by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
The difference is that this aid is part of a presidential authority approved by Congress last year to draw weapons from current U.S. military stockpiles — so Taiwan will not have to wait for military production and sales. This gets weapons delivered faster than providing funding for new weapons.
The Pentagon has used a similar authority to get billions of dollars worth of munitions to Ukraine.
Taiwan split from China in 1949 amid civil war. Chinese President Xi Jinping maintains China’s right to take over the now self-ruled island, by force if necessary. China has accused the U.S. of turning Taiwan into a "powder keg" through the billions of dollars in weapons sales it has pledged.
The U.S. maintains a "One China" policy under which it does not recognize Taiwan’s formal independence and has no formal diplomatic relations with the island in deference to Beijing. However, U.S. law requires a credible defense for Taiwan and for the U.S. to treat all threats to the island as matters of "grave concern."
Getting stockpiles of weapons to Taiwan now, before an attack begins, is one of the lessons the U.S. has learned from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Pentagon deputy defense secretary Kathleen Hicks told The Associated Press earlier this year.
FILE - Armed vehicles and Taiwan military soldiers attend the annual Han Guang anti-landing drill at Bali beach, New Taipei City on July 27, 2023. (SAM YEH/AFP via Getty Images)
Ukraine "was more of a cold-start approach than the planned approach we have been working on for Taiwan, and we will apply those lessons," Hicks said. Efforts to resupply Taiwan after a conflict erupted would be complicated because it is an island, she said.
China regularly sends warships and planes across the center line in the Taiwan Strait that provides a buffer between the sides, as well as into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone, in an effort to intimidate the island’s 23 million people and wear down its military capabilities.
Liu Pengyu, a spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, said in a statement Friday that Beijing was "firmly opposed" to U.S. military ties with Taiwan. The U.S. should "stop selling arms to Taiwan" and "stop creating new factors that could lead to tensions in the Taiwan Strait," Liu said. | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/us-to-send-taiwan-345-million-military-aid-package | 2023-07-29T02:58:12 | 1 | https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/us-to-send-taiwan-345-million-military-aid-package |
The UFO congressional hearing was 'insulting' to US employees, a top Pentagon official says
Washington — A top Pentagon official has attacked this week's widely watched congressional hearing on UFOs, calling the claims “insulting” to employees who are investigating sightings and accusing a key witness of not cooperating with the official U.S. government investigation.
Dr. Sean Kirkpatrick's letter, published on his personal LinkedIn page and circulated Friday across social media, criticizes much of the testimony from a retired Air Force intelligence officer that energized believers in extraterrestrial life and produced headlines around the world.
Retired Air Force Maj. David Grusch testified Wednesday that the U.S. has concealed what he called a “multi-decade” program to collect and reverse-engineer “UAPs,” or unidentified aerial phenomena, the official government term for UFOs.
Part of what the U.S. has recovered, Grusch testified, were non-human “biologics," which he said he had not seen but had learned about from “people with direct knowledge of the program."
A career intelligence officer, Kirkpatrick was named a year ago to lead the Pentagon’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office, or AARO, which was intended to centralize investigations into UAPs. The Pentagon and U.S. intelligence agencies have been pushed by Congress in recent years to better investigate reports of devices flying at unusual speeds or trajectories as a national security concern.
Kirkpatrick wrote the letter Thursday and the Defense Department confirmed Friday that he posted it in a personal capacity. Kirkpatrick did not return messages seeking comment.
He writes in part, “I cannot let yesterday’s hearing pass without sharing how insulting it was to the officers of the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community who chose to join AARO, many with not unreasonable anxieties about the career risks this would entail.”
“They are truth-seekers, as am I,” Kirkpatrick said. “But you certainly would not get that impression from yesterday’s hearing.”
In a separate statement, Pentagon spokeswoman Sue Gough denied other allegations made by Grusch and other witnesses before a House Oversight subcommittee.
The Pentagon “has no information that any individual has been harmed or killed as a result of providing information” about UFO objects, Gough said. Nor has the Pentagon discovered “any verifiable information to substantiate claims that any programs regarding the possession or reverse-engineering of extraterrestrial materials have existed in the past or exist currently.”
Kirkpatrick wrote, “AARO has yet to find any credible evidence to support the allegations of any reverse engineering program for non-human technology.”
He had briefed reporters in December that the Pentagon was investigating “several hundreds” of new reports following a push to have pilots and others come forward with any sightings.
Kirkpatrick wrote in his letter that allegations of “retaliation, to include physical assault and hints of murder, are extraordinarily serious, which is why law enforcement is a critical member of the AARO team, specifically to address and take swift action should anyone come forward with such claims."
“Yet, contrary to assertions made in the hearing, the central source of those allegations has refused to speak with AARO,” Kirkpatrick said. He did not explicitly name Grusch, who alleged he faced retaliation and declined to answer when a congressman asked him if anyone had been murdered to hide information about UFOs.
Messages left at a phone number and email address for Grusch were not returned Friday. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/28/the-ufo-congressional-hearing-was-insulting-to-us-employees-a-top-pentagon-official-says/70490784007/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:13 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/28/the-ufo-congressional-hearing-was-insulting-to-us-employees-a-top-pentagon-official-says/70490784007/ |
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — Police have released reconstructed photos of an unidentified woman whose remains were found in suitcases along the Intracoastal Waterway in Delray Beach earlier this month.
In total, detectives found three suitcases along Delray Beach, 9 miles north of Boca Raton, filled with human remains – one floating in the water and a short time later, two more at nearby locations along the beach.
Delray Beach police were called to the scene on July 21 after someone reported “seeing something strange in the intracoastal waterway,” they said in an online statement. Authorities believe the victim was murdered sometime between July 17 and July 20.
While details are limited, police say the victim is a White or Hispanic middle-aged woman with brown hair, approximately 5’4” tall, who may possibly have had tattooed eyebrows and was wearing a floral tank top by the Brazillian brand “Betzabe” with a black undershirt and black mid-thigh shorts.
Police released an artist rendering of what the victim may have looked like, along with images of two of the “unique” suitcases her remains were found in – a purple Palm Springs Ricardo Beverly Hills bag and a green and black polka dot Charlie Sport bag.
Authorities are asking the public to look at the renderings and for residents who live along the Intercoastal Waterway to check their home video surveillance cameras to see if they captured anything.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/reconstructed-images-released-of-woman-whose-remains-were-found-in-3-suitcases-along-delray-beach/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:13 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/reconstructed-images-released-of-woman-whose-remains-were-found-in-3-suitcases-along-delray-beach/ |
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WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Friday for the first time publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, a four-year-old girl fathered by his son Hunter with an Arkansas woman, Lunden Roberts, in 2018.
“Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward," Biden said in a statement. It was his first acknowledgement of the child.
“This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter,” he said. "Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.”
Hunter Biden's paternity was established by DNA testing after Roberts sued for child support, and the two parties recently resolved outstanding child support issues. The president's son wrote about his encounter with Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying it came while he was deep in addiction to alcohol and drugs, including crack cocaine.
“I had no recollection of our encounter,” he wrote. “That’s how little connection I had with anyone. I was a mess, but a mess I’ve taken responsibility for.”
An attorney for Roberts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The president, who has made a commitment to family central to his public persona, has faced increasing criticism from political rivals and pundits for failing to acknowledge the granddaughter. According to a person familiar with the matter, he was taking the cue from his son while the legal proceedings played out. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private matters.
Hunter Biden has four other children, including a son, Beau, born by his wife Melissa Cohen in 2020. He was named after the president's late son who died of cancer in 2015, leaving behind two children.
Biden's grandchildren have played a distinctive role in his presidency, often accompanying the president or first lady on trips and making regular visits to the White House. The president has also credited his grandchildren with persuading him to challenge then-President Donald Trump for the White House in 2020.
Biden's statement was first reported by People Magazine. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-acknowledges-seventh-grandchild-hunters-daughter/507-ad6442fa-448f-4603-bb7e-17493e4449f0 | 2023-07-29T02:58:18 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/biden-acknowledges-seventh-grandchild-hunters-daughter/507-ad6442fa-448f-4603-bb7e-17493e4449f0 |
'X' logo installed atop Twitter building, spurring San Francisco to investigate permit violation
San Francisco — The city of San Francisco has opened a complaint and launched an investigation into a giant “X” sign that was installed Friday on top of the downtown building formerly known as Twitter headquarters as owner Elon Musk continues his rebrand of the social media platform.
City officials say replacing letters or symbols on buildings, or erecting a sign on top of one, requires a permit for design and safety reasons.
The X appeared after San Francisco police stopped workers on Monday from removing the brand's iconic bird and logo from the side of the building, saying they hadn't taped off the sidewalk to keep pedestrians safe if anything fell.
Any replacement letters or symbols would require a permit to ensure “consistency with the historic nature of the building” and to make sure additions are safely attached to the sign, Patrick Hannan, spokesperson for the Department of Building Inspection said earlier this week.
Erecting a sign on top of a building also requires a permit, Hannan said Friday.
“Planning review and approval is also necessary for the installation of this sign. The city is opening a complaint and initiating an investigation,” he said in an email.
Musk unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he remakes the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. The X started appearing at the top of the desktop version of Twitter on Monday.
Musk, who is also CEO of Tesla, has long been fascinated with the letter X and had already renamed Twitter’s corporate name to X Corp. after he bought it in October. One of his children is called “X.” The child’s actual name is a collection of letters and symbols.
On Friday afternoon, a worker on a lift machine made adjustments to the sign and then left. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate-permit-violation/70490232007/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:19 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/nation/2023/07/28/x-logo-installed-atop-twitter-building-spurring-san-francisco-to-investigate-permit-violation/70490232007/ |
FORT MYERS, Fla. — In a groundbreaking event that captured the attention of wildlife enthusiasts and scientists alike, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) conducted the dissection of a recently captured, record-breaking 19-foot python.
The focus of this extraordinary endeavor was not solely to marvel at the python’s size but to unravel the mysteries concealed within its body.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Naples man captures longest Burmese python in Florida
The dissection held a dual purpose — to gain a comprehensive understanding of the python’s internal organs and to meticulously search for parasites that might be posing a threat to Florida’s native wildlife.
Dr. Christina Anaya, a distinguished biology professor and parasitologist at FGCU, shared the significance of their research.
“Invasive species…what are they bringing with them when they enter our ecosystem here? How do those parasites affect the local flora and fauna?” she questioned, highlighting the potential repercussions of invasive species and their associated parasites.
Parasites had been discovered in previous python dissections, causing detrimental effects on the native snake populations of Florida. The team has done as many as 40 necropsies on Burmese pythons and is determined to shed light on these “backseat driver” parasites and their potential impact on both wildlife and humans.
As the dissection commenced, the FGCU team embarked on an extraordinary journey into the python’s gastrointestinal system.
“We’ve previously found things like deer hooves, just the hooves,” exclaimed one of the researchers, emphasizing the python’s ability to consume large prey.
The dissection continued with meticulous precision, revealing fascinating insights into the python’s digestive tract.
“Maybe this python ate recently?” speculated another team member. “You might see a rat. A leftover foot from a deer, something like that.”
Amidst the fascination with the python’s colossal anatomy, the team’s primary objective was to search for parasites.
“Typically from the Conservancy we will get the digestive tract of the animal with identifying information. We will have data later of what we need,” said Dr. Anaya.
To their surprise, the dissection yielded the discovery of three parasites within the python’s body. Some of these parasites had the potential to control and decimate populations of native species, raising concerns about the intricate balance of Florida’s wildlife.
“Pythons in their homes in Asia have a Pentastomida parasite that lives in the lungs. When pythons came and invaded Florida, they brought their parasites with them,” shared Dr. Anaya.
As the team worked diligently, they employed advanced techniques to measure the parasites’ dimensions.
“Even in this picture you can see that it’s one millimeter. In the program, you can draw a line and the program knows how many pixels there are,” explained a researcher, highlighting the meticulousness of their analysis.
Julianna Colon, an aspiring biology student at FGCU, expressed her enthusiasm for the research.
“This really hasn’t been done before. The parasites inside these invasive species haven’t really been looked at. So we don’t know what’s in them,” she shared, reflecting on the importance of their groundbreaking work.
“There are parasites out there that we don’t know the species on and what damage they can cause to native populations or humans,” Colon continued, underscoring the significance of understanding the potential threats posed by invasive species and their hidden parasites.
As the dissection unfolded, the python’s secrets were unveiled, providing valuable insights into the complex interactions between invasive species and Florida’s native wildlife. Three Pentastomida parasites were located inside the 19-foot record-breaking snake.
FGCU biologists’ next step will be to map the DNA of the parasites and compare their findings to previous necropsies. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/record-breaking-19-foot-python-dissected-by-fgcu/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:19 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/record-breaking-19-foot-python-dissected-by-fgcu/ |
DES MOINES, Iowa — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vowed “I will get the job done” but shied away from attacking former President Donald Trump as the two top rivals for the Republican presidential nomination were making rare appearances at the same Iowa campaign event on Friday night.
Despite Trump being charged a day earlier with additional counts over his retention of classified documents that could shake up the race, DeSantis stuck to his standard campaign speech, mostly targeting President Joe Biden. The Florida governor also repeated his frequent promise to halt the “weaponization” of the Justice Department, an allusion to Trump's legal troubles, but offered no specific thoughts on the cases against him. That's despite Trump also bracing to be charged soon in Washington over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
“The time for excuses is over. We must get the job done," DeSantis said. "I will get the job done."
Trump frequently avoids attending multicandidate events in person, questioning why he would share a stage with competitors who are badly trailing him in polls. But with Iowa's first-in-the-nation caucus less than six months away, the former president joined a dozen other GOP hopefuls in speaking to about 1,200 GOP members and activists at the Lincoln Day Dinner.
He also opened an Iowa campaign office in Urbandale, outside Des Moines, prior to the main event — and wasn't shy about slamming his competitors around the same time DeSantis was taking the stage at the dinner.
“I understand the other candidates are falling very flat ... it’s like death,” Trump said, adding, “There’s no applause, there’s no nothing.”
More than 100 people packed the small office, many wearing “Make America Great Again” hats and shirts. They had waited in 100-degree weather to enter, and the poorly ventilated office quickly became sweltering. Staff handed out water bottles, and people fanned themselves with campaign handouts. Some used paper towels to wipe away sweat.
DeSantis is Trump’s strongest primary competitor but has been trying to reset his stalled campaign for two weeks. He's increasingly focusing on Iowa in its efforts on trying to derail Trump.
The governor's stumbles have raised questions about whether another candidate might be able to emerge from the field and catch the former president. Some evangelicals, who can be determinative in the state’s caucuses, have pointed to South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott’s upbeat message and pulpit-style delivery as strengths that could help him rise there.
Scott, who also spoke Friday night and didn't mention Trump or the cases against him, held a town hall the previous day in Ankeny with Iowa’s Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds. Afterward, Scott took a swipe at DeSantis over the Florida governor's support for new standards that require the state's teachers to instruct middle school students that slaves developed skills that “could be applied for their personal benefit.”
The only Black Republican in the U.S. Senate, Scott said all Americans should recognize how “devastating” slavery was. “There is no silver lining” to slavery, he added.
DeSantis has also faced criticism from teachers and civil rights leaders, as well as mounting pushback from some of his party's most prominent Black elected officials. Florida Rep. Byron Donalds said he hoped officials might “correct” parts of the curriculum addressing lessons on the developed skills of enslaved people. Texas Republican Rep. Wesley Hunt and Will Hurd, a former Texas congressman now also running in the GOP presidential primary, have also criticized DeSantis.
Still, the governor continued to dig in on the issue, saying at a pre-dinner event in Oskaloosa on Friday, “D.C. Republicans all too often accept false narratives, accept lies that are perpetrated by the left." The governor has defended the new school curriculum, saying, “I think it’s very clear that these guys did a good job on those standards."
John Niemeyer, 52, from Kalona, Iowa, attended DeSantis' event and was impressed. But, as a high school teacher, he’s not a fan of some of the governor's positions on education policy.
“I don’t want to make our classrooms a political battlefield,” he said, adding that it would be a “mistake” to make the issue the forefront of his campaign.
Vice President Kamala Harris made her own Iowa stop on Friday, seeking to draw a contrast with the Republicans as she looked to lift President Joe Biden's reelection campaign. Harris met in Des Moines with activists and discussed abortion rights, after Reynolds recently signed a ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy.
“I do believe that we are witnessing a national agenda that is about a full-on attack on hard won freedoms and hard won rights,” the vice president said.
Hours later, many Lincoln Day Dinner attendees wore “Trump Country” stickers, including 72-year-old Diane Weaver of Ankeny, Iowa.
“I think he makes America great," said Weaver, a retiree who plans to caucus for Trump. “I think he did it once and I think he can do it again.”
West Des Moines resident Jane Schrader chose to wear her “Trump Country” sticker on her pants instead of at eye level. “I’m not quite dyed-in-the-wool. I’m a supporter, but not that kind,” said the retired physician, explaining her sticker placement.
Trump did face criticism from some rivals, including former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchison, who in his speech declared, "As a party, we need a new direction for America and for the GOP.” The crowd offered only a muted reaction — but refrained from booing, which Trump critics at Republican primary events often face.
DeSantis, meanwhile, ducked chances Friday to criticize Trump over the additional charges he faces even before his speech.
“We have engaged when appropriate,” DeSantis told reporters in Oskaloosa, adding that he's not interested in "relitigating the latest superseding indictment.”
The governor has pledged to eventually visit all of Iowa’s 99 counties and is in the midst of a two-day state bus tour organized by a super PAC supporting his run. But he faces fresh questions about his strategy and path forward.
After his fundraising reports showed him burning through donations, the governor cut more than a third of his campaign staff.
DeSantis' cash crunch seems to be driving the campaign to rely even more on the efforts of the super PAC Never Back Down to take up the work typically done by campaign staff. Super PACs can receive unlimited sums from donors but are barred under federal rules from donating to candidates or coordinating with campaigns on how their money is spent.
While presidential campaigns have been supplemented before by the work of super PACs, which frequently use deeper coffers to run expensive television ads, the work Never Back Down has done to promote DeSantis has been more expansive. | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-desantis-republican-iowa-lincoln-day-dinner/507-35b0317a-5fff-4915-b243-aee60a360db2 | 2023-07-29T02:58:25 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/nation-world/trump-desantis-republican-iowa-lincoln-day-dinner/507-35b0317a-5fff-4915-b243-aee60a360db2 |
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Neighbors are taking Lee County to court to stop massive development from stealing Alva’s countryside charm.
Six names are listed on a petition, suing the county and Lee County Commissioner Mike Greenwell over the recent rezoning of land for shops and apartments. The 76-acre property is owned by Greenwell and sits along S.R. 31, between the Lee Civic Center and Babcock Ranch.
Tony Flammia is one of the neighbors who lives near the site, appealing the June decision to convert the farmland where a 400-square-foot shopping center and 122-apartment complex are planned.
“Our whole community is about to be changed and we don’t have a say so in any of it,” said Flammia. “There’s a lot of people out there that know where Alva is. There’s a lot of people that come out here just for a Sunday drive. There’s these massive oak trees that cover the road…you don’t see that in Lee County.”
The more than 50-page appeal claims the land was rezoned incorrectly, commissioners ignored environmental concerns and went against community input.
“I don’t know anybody out here who wants that to go through,” said Mary Stringer.
Stringer and her neighbors say traffic on S.R. 31 can’t handle all the future development planned for the area.
“The traffic is so bad that sometimes you wait 20-30 min to turn on the road, to get my grandson to school. The traffic is that bad!” she said.
That’s not the only future development these neighbors are worried about changing their rustic lifestyle. The Sarasota-based company, Neal Communities, is asking Lee County to rezone more than 700 acres for a development with plans for more than a thousand homes on a piece of property between North River Road and Duke Highway as early as 2025.
Joe Spena said Alva already looks a lot different than it did 30 years ago, yet he considers it one of the very last parts of “Old Florida,” left.
“This road, people used to ride their horses down and tie them up on the trees,” said Spena. “Nowadays, it’s too dangerous. Florida is losing its value in what it was valued for.”
“When you’re fighting big money and politics .. it’s hard,” said Flammia. “I came from LA and lived out there in the concrete jungle so the last thing I wanted to do was to be in a place like that again, so this was an answered prayer.”
Flammia and the other neighbors in the appeal are planning to form a coalition to protect Alva from overdevelopment. They’re hoping by filing the legal action, other neighbors will join their fight.
We reached out to the county and Commissioner Greenwell Wednesday, but they haven’t gotten back to us about the petition yet. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/residents-suing-lee-county-in-fight-to-preserve-alvas-countryside-charm/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:25 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/residents-suing-lee-county-in-fight-to-preserve-alvas-countryside-charm/ |
4 air crew members are missing after Australian army helicopter ditched off Australia's coast
Brisbane, Australia — Four air crew members were missing after an Australian army helicopter ditched into waters off the Queensland state coast during joint military exercises with the United States, officials said Saturday.
The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter went down near Hamilton Island, a Great Barrier Reef tourist resort, at about 10:30 p.m. Friday, Defense Minister Richard Marles said.
A search was underway to find the crew, and their families had been notified, officials said.
A rescue helicopter reported spotting debris Saturday morning near Dent Island in the Whitsunday Islands group.
The Taipan was taking part in Talisman Sabre, a biennial joint U.S.-Australian military exercise that is largely based in Queensland. This year’s exercise involves 13 nations and more than 30,000 military personnel.
Marles said the helicopter had ditched, which refers to an emergency landing on water. He said it was taking part in a mission that involved a second helicopter, which immediately started a search and rescue operation.
“Defense exercises, which are so necessary for the readiness of our defense force, are serious. They carry risk,” Marles told reporters in Brisbane. “As we desperately hope for better news during the course of this day we are reminded about the gravity of the act which comes with wearing our nation’s uniform."
Defense Force Chief Gen. Angus Campbell said Queensland state authorities, members of the public and U.S. military personnel were taking part in the search.
“Our focus at the moment is finding our people and supporting their families and the rest of our team, “ Campbell said. "This is indeed a terrible moment.”
It is the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan this year, after one ditched into the sea off the New South Wales state coast in March. That helicopter was taking part in a nighttime counterterrorism training exercise when it ran into trouble. All 10 passengers and crew members were rescued.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Brisbane for a meeting on Saturday and is due to travel with Marles to north Queensland on Sunday to see the exercise.
The exercise has been paused by the search. | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/world/2023/07/28/4-air-crew-members-are-missing-after-australian-army-helicopter-ditched-off-australias-coast/70490828007/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:27 | 0 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/world/2023/07/28/4-air-crew-members-are-missing-after-australian-army-helicopter-ditched-off-australias-coast/70490828007/ |
'One tough night': Tigers climb out of 4-0 hole, but drop opener 6-5 to Marlins
Miami — Never giving up. Staying in the fight. Playing all 27 outs. Admirable traits, for sure.
But after a while, fighting to the end and losing has to get old.
The Tigers rallied for four runs in the ninth inning to tie the game Tuesday against the Angels, only to lose it in the 10th. On Friday in Miami, they rallied out of an early 4-0 deficit, tied the game with a two-run burst in the top of the eighth and then lost it in the bottom of the eighth.
"Losing sucks, no matter what," said Spencer Torkelson after the Marlins scored twice against reliever Jason Foley to beat the Tigers 6-5 at LoanDepot Park. "We love Foley. He's the man and he's been dynamite for us all year. It was just one tough night."
Foley gave up three straight singles − to Jesus Sanchez, Yuli Gurriel and an RBI single by Jon Berti − plus a sacrifice fly.
"We didn't get into the game great and we didn't finish it great," said manager AJ Hinch. "But late we put ourselves back into it with a couple of big at-bats. But they continue to play, too. That's a good team."
BOX SCORE: Marlins 6, Tigers 5
The Tigers, who have lost four straight, didn't go quietly in the ninth. Torkelson ripped a one-out double off lefty A.J. Puk and scored on a single by Andy Ibanez to make it a one-run game. Puk struck out Eric Haase and Javier Báez to close it out.
It was a tough ending to a very spirited performance by Báez.
For the first six innings, the only thing churning for the Tigers' offense was Báez's legs. Stymied by Marlins' lefty starter Braxton Garrett, Báez stole a run in the fourth. He chopped an infield single and scored from first base on a ground ball by Miguel Cabrera that eluded third baseman Jean Segura and rolled into shallow left field.
In the second inning Báez walked and stole second. He’s 10-for-10 in stolen-base attempts. He also made a sensational bare-handed play to throw out Segura in the fourth.
"Javy always plays hard," Hinch said. "That probably doesn't get talked about enough. He puts in the effort. He's working. He's trying to address some things. He knows he can help us in different ways if he's not driving the ball out of the park. I'm happy he feels good enough physically and he understands he has to do some little things well to continue to contribute."
The Tigers scratched across another run in the seventh on a two-out, two-strike RBI knock by Torkelson, who had struck out three times against Garrett.
More:Q&A with Tigers' Miguel Cabrera: 'I want to stay in baseball. Hopefully that will happen'
Still, they were down 4-2. With one out in the eighth, Báez beat out another infield hit, this time with a head-first slide beating Miami pitcher Tanner Scott to the bag. Scott's foot hit the bag awkwardly and he left with what was later called a mild calf strain.
That turned out to be significant for the Tigers. The lefty Scott was replaced by right-hander JT Chargois. Hinch countered with his left-handed hitters off the bench. Zach McKinstry drew a two-out walk and Nick Maton followed with a two-run double to the right-field gap, scoring both runners and tying the game.
"Nick was waiting around for the righty matchup and we got it for him twice," Hinch said. "He got fortunate on a squibber (in the seventh, scoring on Torkelson's hit). And he had a really good at-bat against their righty reliever. We were trying to matchup for that at-bat and Nick stayed in it.
"You don't have to homer to contribute."
The home run ball vexed Tigers' starter Reese Olson again. San Diego’s Juan Soto got him twice in his previous start. And in the first inning Friday, Bryan De La Cruz mashed a 1-0 fastball over the wall in left, a two-run homer. The 95-mph fastball was inside and off the plate.
"I was surprised he hit that," Olson said. "I don't know how he hit it. I thought it was lower than it was but it was off the plate. He just jumped a heater."
It was the fourth homer Olson’s allowed in his last three starts.
De La Cruz got Olson again in the third. Olson hung an 0-2 slider that ended up in the left field corner, an RBI double. Olson had hung a slider to Berti in the second inning that resulted in a double. Berti scored on an infield hit by Jean Segura.
The slider has been a money pitch for Olson since he was called up from Triple-A Toledo. The spin rate on it has been elite, 3,013 rpm on average. Through the first four innings, Olson threw 12 sliders with an average spin rate of 2,473 rpm, 540 rpm less.
"It just wasn't very good today," he said. "It's not something you can lean on when you are missing that bad with it."
He decided to put the pitch in his pocket for the fifth inning, using his changeup more often and also mixing some curveballs. The adjustment worked. He retired the last seven hitters, getting through six full innings.
He brought the slider back out in the sixth and got a swinging strike and a pop out with it.
"To give up four and then settle down and get through six innings, give us a little length and not stress the bullpen too much -- I'm pleased I was able to do that," he said. "Just those first few innings were tough."
The difference between winning games and fighting hard to lose games is small. The Marlins put their lead off man on in four innings and scored in all four. The Tigers put their lead off hitter on only once and stranded him at third. They left 10 runners on base and were 3-for-9 with runners in scoring position.
"It hurts to lose, no matter how it goes," Torkelson said. "But I think there was a lot of good to take out of today."
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2023/07/28/tigers-climb-out-of-4-0-hole-but-drop-opener-to-marlins-6-5/70485019007/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:28 | 1 | https://www.detroitnews.com/story/sports/mlb/tigers/2023/07/28/tigers-climb-out-of-4-0-hole-but-drop-opener-to-marlins-6-5/70485019007/ |
HOUSTON — Houston police released a series of reports Friday into the investigation of what happened during the deadly Astroworld Festival tragedy. The incident left 10 people dead, including a 9-year-old boy, and roughly 300 other people injured.
The more than 1,200 pages of reports released Friday morning detail attempts to stop the show just moments after it began. It includes statements from a security contractor, firefighter and police officer who warned higher ups about crowd conditions and urged them to stop the concert more than an hour before it was shut down.
Moments after Travis Scott’s 9 p.m. set, a security contractor texted the festival’s security director, “Stage right of main is getting crushed. This is bad.” He continued, “Pull tons over the rail unconscious. There's panic in people eyes. This could get worse quickly.”
That security director later said she checked and didn’t see what the contractor described. She was one of several people, including Scott, who were part of a grand jury investigation that last month found no one criminally responsible for the November 2021 deaths.
But that contractor wasn’t the only one raising red flags. At about the same time, a Houston police officer said people were “begging her to stop the music because there were people unconscious on the ground being trampled.” She “put the transmission over the air to stop the concert sometime around 9 p.m.,” the report reads.
Shortly afterward, the 911 calls started – 25 over the 30 minutes. One call at 9:13 p.m. was transcribed as, “’People are dying they can't breathe (Inaudible)’ Can hear screaming and yelling. ‘Please stop it, please stop it, people are dying.’”
A firefighter radioed in more concerns at 9:20 p.m. “That is when I realized that the crowd was compressing, and people were emerging from the crowd under duress. I radioed in my suspicions to HFD Command,” he told an investigator.
It took another 19 minutes, however, before Houston police commanders said they heard, “three persons were receiving CPR and the personnel in the media towers were afraid as people were climbing the tower. We immediately moved back toward the front of the stage to find (the safety and risk director), see what was going on, and shut down the event.”
That safety and risk director, who was later investigated by the grand jury, said the show would end at 10 p.m., but when it didn’t, he went to the technicians who had direct contact to Travis Scott’s earpiece.
“I told the three men we had three people receiving CPR and we had to shut the show down immediately. One of the males responded by saying ‘but they're not dead,’” the commander wrote in a statement. “I yelled they might and we had to shut down. One of the males said they would tell Mr. Scott and he would come on stage and shut it down but they needed time. I did not want to risk a panic or a riot and make things worse.”
The music didn’t stop for another 13 minutes.
Travis Scott thought the crowd was “super chill”
Scott’s interview with police is also in the report. He said he never heard anyone from the crowd pleading to shut it down, and even checked in with the crowd by saying, “if everyone is okay, put a finger up, and put a middle finger up.’ He stated that everyone put a middle finger up.”
“Travis stated that he believed that the crowd did understand him when he gave that directive,” the report reads. “He stated that he has been doing this for a long time and he noted that when the people are not doing what he is asking them, then there is a problem.”
Toward the end of the show, Drake joined him on stage and he was told in his earpiece that he needed to wrap it up, but there was no details about the emergency.
As Drake was leaving, he got another message, “he was told in his earpiece, ‘yo Trav, you got to wrap it up, its getting kinda hectic out there’ He stated again that he was supposed to go until 10:30 but he was told to stop short after Drake got off the stage,” the report said. “Again, there was no mention to the severity of the situation.”
Although no one has been criminally indicted, numerous civil lawsuits have been filed on behalf of victims and their families.
Houston Police Department Chief Troy Finner has said before that the report was going to be released in an effort to be transparent about their investigation.
The documents were released on the same day as Scott released his latest album. HPD said that was just a coincidence.
The full report can be read here.
Victims' families react to Astroworld Festival final report
Attorneys representing the families of Astroworld Festival victims call HPD's final report of the incident further proof of negligence.
They plan to use it as evidence in civil cases.
"Families are still feeling exactly what they felt the day after the tragedy occurred," attorney Alex Hilliard said.
Hilliard represents about 700 concertgoers who've filed a lawsuit over the event. He also represents the family of Ezra Blount, the youngest victim who died.
"There are some days when you can't get out of bed," Hilliard said. "There are some days when there's pure grief, pure shock, pure anger."
He said that was especially true when families found out no one would be criminally charged. But Hilliard said the extensive police report, which includes excruciating witness accounts, will be evidence in an ongoing civil litigation aimed, in part, at preventing future tragedies.
In a statement, another attorney representing victim's families said:
"The report, while important for the public to see, simply confirms what we already feared and have discovered in the course of the lawsuit. That the organizers and promoters of the concert failed to properly plan, valuing profitability over the obvious safety concerns that proved fatal."
More coverage on the Astroworld Festival tragedy
- 'This tragedy was preventable' | Victims' attorneys send experts to study Astroworld setup
- What is compression asphyxia? Houston doctor explains cause of death for Astroworld victims
- Travis Scott sits with Charlamagne Tha God during first interview since Astroworld tragedy
- 'Faucet of unimaginable pain': Astroworld victim's family declines Travis Scott's funeral cost offer
- Astroworld Festival tragedy: The impact on Travis Scott's career didn't last
- Texas Task Force on Concert Safety releases final report in wake of deadly Astroworld Festival | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/special-reports/astroworld-tragedy-police-report/285-b880a0e5-1845-46e5-98b2-02f1d32984a6 | 2023-07-29T02:58:31 | 0 | https://www.fox43.com/article/news/special-reports/astroworld-tragedy-police-report/285-b880a0e5-1845-46e5-98b2-02f1d32984a6 |
(CNN) — Special counsel Jack Smith on Thursday brought additional charges against former President Donald Trump in the case alleging mishandling of classified documents from his time in the White House.
Prosecutors allege in the updated indictment that two Trump employees – aide Walt Nauta and Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker Carlos De Oliveira – attempted to delete security camera footage at the former president’s resort after the Justice Department issued a subpoena for it.
De Oliveira told the director of IT at the resort “that ‘the boss’ wanted the server deleted,” according to the indictment.
Trump, who had already faced 37 criminal charges, was charged with one additional count of willful retention of national defense information and two additional obstruction counts.
Trump, according to the indictment, was charged with willfully retaining a top-secret document that was a “presentation concerning military activity in a foreign country,” which CNN reported was Iran. Trump had discussed the document with biographers during a taped meeting at Bedminster, New Jersey, in July 2021, the indictment said.
New charges were also filed against Nauta, and De Oliveira, who was added to the case, was charged with lying to the FBI about moving boxes at Trump’s golf club.
As CNN previously reported, surveillance footage turned over to the Justice Department showed Nauta and De Oliveira, 56, moving document boxes around the resort after the Justice Department first subpoenaed Trump for classified documents last May, including into a storage room just before Trump lawyer Evan Corcoran searched it for classified documents.
Justice Department officials came to Mar-a-Lago the day after Corcoran’s search, and Corcoran handed over 38 classified documents he had found. Yet the FBI retrieved more than 100 more classified documents when it searched Mar-a-Lago in August, both in the storage room and Trump’s office.
The Justice Department has subsequently said in court that it believes “government records were likely concealed and removed from the Storage Room.”
Trump and Nauta were previously charged last month and have pleaded not guilty.
De Oliveira spoke to investigators earlier this year and his phone had been seized.
Nauta’s attorney declined to comment to CNN on Thursday. John Irving, a defense attorney for De Oliveira, also declined to comment.
Irving is among the lawyers whose law firm has received nearly $200,000 in payments for legal services from Donald Trump’s Save America PAC.
De Oliveira has been summoned to appear at 10:30 a.m. ET on July 31 in federal court in Miami.
In a statement, a Trump spokesman called the charges “nothing more than a continued desperate and flailing attempt by the Biden Crime Family and their Department of Justice to harass President Trump and those around him.”
Separately on Thursday, Trump’s defense lawyers and Smith met in Washington, DC, to discuss the investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
No guidance was given to Trump’s team about timing of a possible indictment, sources familiar with the matter told CNN.
The grand jury in Washington continues to hear evidence from the special counsel’s probe into election subversion efforts by Trump and his allies.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/special-counsel-brings-more-charges-against-donald-trump-in-mar-a-lago-classified-documents-case/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:32 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/special-counsel-brings-more-charges-against-donald-trump-in-mar-a-lago-classified-documents-case/ |
California shell egg prices Jul 28, 2023 6 hrs ago Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email 123rf Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Daily California EggsJuly 28 × This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. kAmq6?49>2C< AC:46D 2C6 DE625J] }6IE H66<VD 2D<:?8 AC:46D 2C6 F?492?865 7@C 2== D:K6D] %96 F?56CE@?6 :D DE625J H:E9 D@>6 ?@E:?8 42FE:@?] s6>2?5 :?E@ C6E2:= 2?5 7@@5 D6CG:46 492??6=D :D =:89E E@ :?DE2?46D >@56C2E6 2D 6IEC6>6 962E :D :>A24E:?8 @G6C2== >@G6>6?E] ~776C:?8D 2C6 FDF2==J =:89E 7@C yF>3@[ H9:=6 >@56C2E6 E@ 7F==J 256BF2E6 7@C E96 32=2?46 @7 D:K6D] $FAA=:6D 2C6 >@56C2E6] |2C<6E 24E:G:EJ :D D=@H E@ >@56C2E6] $>2== 36?49>2C< AC:46 :D S`]bb]k^AmkAmrp{xu~#}xpk^AmkAm$96== 688 >2C<6E6C’D 36?49>2C< AC:46 7@C ?68@E:2E65 688 D2=6D @7 &$sp vC256 pp 2?5 vC256 pp :? 42CE@?D[ 46?ED A6C 5@K6?] %9:D AC:46 5@6D ?@E C67=64E 5:D4@F?ED @C @E96C 4@?EC24E E6C>D]k^AmkAmyF>3@ acc tIEC2 {2C86 a`bk^Am Digital subscription only $5/mthkAm{2C86 a_` |65:F> `dbk^AmkAm$@FE96C? r2=:7@C?:2k^AmkAm!C:46D E@ C6E2:=6CD[ D2=6D E@ G@=F>6 3FJ6CD[ &$sp vC256 pp H9:E6 688D :? 42CE@@?D[ 56=:G6C65 DE@C6 5@@C[ 46?ED A6C 5@K6?]k^AmkAmyF>3@ abe\ach tIEC2 {2C86 a_`\a`ak^AmkAm{2C86 `gg\`hh |65:F> `bh\`dck^Am Sign up for our Top Stories newsletter Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Top Stories of the Week Please enter a valid email address. Sign up Manage your lists Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save Tags Price Commerce Economics Egg Buyer Asking Price Benchmark California Sale Marketer Term Contract Discount Advertising Cent Finance Supplies Undertone Trade The Economy Stock Exchange Auctions Hay Real Estate Tractors Marketplace Recommended for you Latest News Selected Western livestock auctions Skagit County irrigation districts resume pumping National feeder and stocker cattle report California shell egg prices Western U.S. milk and cream report Russia continues to attack Ukraine's grain industry, expert says Receive browser alerts on specific topics? Sign up to receive news directly to your desktop. Click the bell icon in the nav bar, at any time to change your settings. Yes, sign me up! California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices California shell egg prices Browse Today's events Submit Stocks Market Data by TradingView | https://www.capitalpress.com/nation_world/markets/eggs/california-shell-egg-prices/article_3f1fd7f8-2d81-11ee-8375-4b6994ab7d29.html | 2023-07-29T02:58:34 | 0 | https://www.capitalpress.com/nation_world/markets/eggs/california-shell-egg-prices/article_3f1fd7f8-2d81-11ee-8375-4b6994ab7d29.html |
COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Three Miami men were arrested for stealing multiple catalytic converters after an anonymous tip was sent to Collier County Sheriff’s Office.
On July 27, around 2 a.m., CCSO received a report from a witness who heard the noise of a saw cutting metal from a vehicle in the 100 block of Bedzel Circle., which indicates catalytic converter theft.
The deputies spotted the suspect’s car on Beck Boulevard and tried to pull it over for a traffic stop; however, the driver sped up, leading deputies on a pursuit onto Interstate 75 at 130 mph.
Officals say deputies pursued the suspects for over 50 miles.’
Gustavo Adolfo Sosa, 21; Michael William Antunez, 20; and Richard Segarra, 21, are each charged with multiple felonies, including grand theft.
The driver, Sosa, has also been charged with fleeing and eluding.
The deputies discovered around ten catalytic converters cut and removed from the car.
Multiple pairs of gloves and red saw blades were also found inside the BMW.
Deputies say many catalytic converters come from commonly targeted Toyota Tacomas and Tundras.
Deputies say these are unique because they have two catalytic converters on the same pipe on the vehicle. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/three-miami-men-charged-with-grand-theft-after-running-from-collier-county-sheriffs/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:34 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/three-miami-men-charged-with-grand-theft-after-running-from-collier-county-sheriffs/ |
LEE COUNTY, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has arrested a woman for multiple felony charges after she was wanted for a hit-and-run crash that left a man seriously injured in Lehigh Acres.
On July 23, Amber Tremblay, 33, reportedly hit a 27-year-old Cape Coral man who was riding his ATV on the shoulder of Harvest Avenue near Grafton Street. Video recorded by another ATV rider moments after shows the chaos that ensued.
Tremblay is seen on video reaching into the Dodge Challenger she was driving before getting in another vehicle to take off. She then was involved in another accident roughly a mile away at the intersection of Bell Boulevard and Meadow Road.
PREVIOUS STORY: Woman wanted for 2 Lehigh Acres hit-and-runs, leaving ATV rider injured
According to FHP, troopers made a felony traffic stop on a vehicle traveling on Buckingham Road Tuesday evening. Tremblay was the passenger in the vehicle and she was arrested.
According to Lee County Sheriff’s Office, Tremblay is held with an $84,000 bond for the total of eight charges.
Tremblay faces multiple charges for:
- Hit and run (3 counts)
- Moving traffic violation (5 counts)
Tremblay is currently being booked into the Lee County Jail. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/woman-arrested-for-hit-run-crash-that-seriously-injured-atv-rider/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:41 | 1 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/27/woman-arrested-for-hit-run-crash-that-seriously-injured-atv-rider/ |
A weak tropical wave is moving across the Florida peninsula tonight, helping to generate some scattered showers and thunderstorms. This will continue tonight, though it won’t be able to make much of a dent in the drought conditions present in areas west of Interstate 75 in Lee, Collier and Charlotte Counties unfortunately.
On Saturday, we’re anticipating some sunshine in the morning with high temperatures popping into the low and mid 90s by the lunch hour. After lunch, the sea breeze is expected to be able to fire off some scattered storms, favoring areas along and to the east of the Interstate 75 corridor.
Thankfully the tropics remain generally quiet for Florida for the next few days. No named systems are active at this time, and for now the only area of weather over the ocean being monitored for a favorable chance of development is in the open Atlantic Ocean. It’s too early to determine if this area being watched will be able to impact any areas of land or if it will be able to develop into an organized system. We’ll keep you updated on NBC2 News. | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/28/forecast-another-round-of-coastal-storms-friday/ | 2023-07-29T02:58:54 | 0 | https://nbc-2.com/news/2023/07/28/forecast-another-round-of-coastal-storms-friday/ |